s^r;.zii^ 


D.    APPLETON    8i.    CO. 


I'UBLISH 


LESENiS    ANB   LYSiCS. 


BY 


ANNE  ADELAIDE  PROC/roil, 


( n  A  u  r,  ir  t  e  ii  of   r  u  r.   p  o  i:  t,   b  a  r  r  v   c  o  r  n  \v  a  i.  i,  .  > 


One  very  neat  volume.     12»jo. 


This  is  the  charming  volume  of  fl'esh  and  tendef 
poems,  by  tlie  daughter  of  one  of  England's  most 
honored  and  popular  poets,  which  has  lately  been 
received  with  so  hearty  a  welcome  in  England  and 
America.  Choice  portions  of  it,  copied  by  the  press 
with  lively  praises,  have  found  their  way  to  the  firesides 
of  both  lands. 


^ 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arcliive 

in  2007  witln  funding  from 

l\/licrosoft  Corporation 


littp://www.arcliive.org/details/coopersorgettingOOIiaveiala 


THE  COOPERS; 


OB, 


GETTING    UNDER    WAY 


BY 

ALICE    B.   HAVEN, 

AUTUOB    OF 

"no  such  word  as  fail,"  "all's  not  gold  that  glitters," 
etc.,  etc.,  etc. 


NEW  YORK: 

D.    APPLETON    AND    COMPANY^ 

346   &   348    BROADWAY. 

1858. 


EinTBED  according  to  Act  of  CoDgress,  in  tbe  year  1S5S,  by 
D.  APPLETON  &  CO., 
In  tbe  Clark's  OfBce  of  tb«  District  Conrt  of  the  United  States  for  tbe 
Southern  District  of  New  York. 


I  DARE  say  that  I  am  not  alone  in  noticing  how  many 
young  people,  in  these  rapid  days, — marry,  without  the 
faintest  idea  of  the  cares  and  responsibilities  involved, 
or  with  any  definite  aim  in  life,  after  the  wedding,  the 
bridal  tour,  and  the  gayety  that  usually  follows. 

My  friends  the  Coopers  are,  perhaps,  a  fair  example 
of  this  large  class  ;  and  in  following  their  history  I  have 
kept  in  mind  the  wise  saying  of  Sir  Thomas  More,  be- 
hind which  I  have  more  than  once  shielded  myself  : 
"  Even  as  some  sick  men  will  take  no  medicine  unless 
some  pleasant  thing  be  put  amongst  their  potions,  al- 
though it  be  somewhat  hurtful,  yet  the  physician  suffereth 
them  to  have  it :  so  because  many  will  not  hearken  to 
serious  and  grave  documents,  unless  they  be  mingled 
with  some  fable  or  jest,  therefore  reason  willeth  us  to 
do  the  like." 

The  Willam,  1858. 


2047320 


CONTENTS. 


PAOK 

The  Stocks, 7 

Finding  the  Leak, 30 

"  Fetch  "  and  Carry, 47 

Laying  the  Keel, 71 

The  Launch, 93 

Daily  Trials, " .        .  131 

The  Crisis, 160 

A  Mother's  Wages, 185 

"  The  Frugal  Housewife," 207 

Match-making, 227 

The  Servant  Question, 255 

Gift-making, 280 

Under  Full  Sail, 310 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE       STOCKS. 

"  Dear  me,  how  comfortable  you  look !  "Well, 
this  is  worth  while  now,"  remarked  Mr.  Sam 
Blodget,  warming  first  one  hand  and  then  the 
other  at  the  cheerful  fire,  which  lighted  the  sit- 
ting-room of  his  friends  the  Coopers,  quite  as 
much  as  the  drop-light  over  the  centre-table. 

No  wonder  that  the  cosiness  of  the  room  made 
itself  apparent  to  the  dullest  bachelor  perception. 
The  bed  and  wash-stand  were  snugly  bestowed  in 
a  curtained  alcove ;  pictures  hung  about  the 
walls ;  a  work-stand,  with  a  work-box  evidently 
in  daily  use,  stood  at  one  corner  of  the  lounge, 
drawn  up  before  the  fire,  on  which  Mr.  Cooper 
was  seated,  in  very  close  proximity  to  his  wife ; 
but  they  had  been  married  but  two  months,  and 
the  honeymoon  was  not  quite  left  out  of  sight. 

"  The  fellows,"  who  were  accustomed  to  meet 
at  Sinclair's,  a  favorite  restaurant  on  a  neighboring 


8  THE  COOPEES. 

corner,  were  very  much  astonished  when  Murray 
Cooper,  returning  from  a  short  trip  to  Albany, 
brought  a  wife  with  him.  He  was  rather  aston- 
ished himself,  for  it  must  be  acknowledged  that 
the  whole  transaction  of  courtship  and  marriage 
had  covered  but  three  weeks,  divided  into  two 
visits  six  months  apart.  On  the  first  he  had  acci- 
dentally met  Miss  Smith,  and  in  his  usual  reckless 
manner,  proposed  at  the  end  of  his  stay,  for  which 
presumption  he  deserved  to  have  been  refused, 
but  was  not.  The  most  sensible  women  proverbi- 
ally astonish  their  friends  in  their  love  affairs,  and 
Martha  Smith  had  said  "  for  better  for  worse," 
before  she  commenced  to  study  the  character, 
which  was  to  develop  in  one  of  these  respects. 

"  It's  a  wonder  your  landlady  allows  you  such 
fires,"  remarked  Mr.  Blodget.  , 

"  We  don't  consult  her.  I  take  the  credit  ot 
that  combustion  !  "  and  Mr.  Cooper  surveyed  his 
handiwork  admiringly,     "/made  that  fire." 

"  He  actually  chose  every  large  lump  out  of 
the  hod,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  laughing,  "  and  built 
it  up  piece  by  piece.  It  kept  him  still  for  half  an 
hour  after  dinner." 


THE  STOCKS.  '9" 

"  The  fact  is,  Sam,  I  never  mean  to  go  to 
housekeeping  till  we  can  afford  to  have  firet-rate 
fires,  and  a  good  table.  Stint  in  any  thing  else, 
but  give  me  a  good  fire  and  a  decent  table.  Be 
as  economical  as  you  please  in  other  things — but 
fires ! " 

"  I  don't  believe  he  has  the  first  idea  of  econ- 
omy, Mr.  Blodget, — ^has  he  ? " 

"  I  ought  to  have  ;  we  used  to  see  enough  of 
it  at  Needham's — didn't  we,  Sam  ?  " 

"  Oh !  our  landlady  is  ten  times  worse  than 
Needham !  No,  thank  you,  Mrs.  Cooper,  posi- 
tively canH  sit  down,  though — only  looked  round 
for  a  minute." 

"  There  it  comes  now,"  sighed  Mrs.  Cooper, 
mentally. 

"  Why,"  continued  their  visitor,  "  Poker,  as 
we  call  our  present  mistress  of  ceremonies,  only 
allows  one  hod  to  the  whole  range  of  sky  parlors, 
no  matter  how  hard  we  ring  for  more  ;  the  conse- 
quence is,  the  fire  goes  out,  and  if  we  happen  to 
be  in,  which  doesn't  often  happen,  fortunately, 
we  are  obliged  to  go  to  bed  in  self-defence  by  ten 
o'clock ;  so  the  gas  doesn't  suffer.    Don't  you  see, 


10  THE  C00PEK8. 

Mrs.  Cooper  ?  'Pon  my  word,  I  always  stumble 
over  that  word  yet ;  it  does  seem  so  singular." 

"  So  do  I,"  said  the  newly-made  husband. 
"  When  people  say  to  me  down  town,  '  How's 
Mrs.  Cooper?'  I  always  have  to  stop  and  think 
who  they  mean.  First  along,  I  always  used  to 
wonder  why  the " 

"  S-h-u  !  "  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  wamingly,  with 
her  forefinger  on  her  lip,  and  a  bright  smile,  as  if 
recalling  some  matrimonial  compact  to  her  hus- 
band. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Matty ;  I  was  going  to 
say  something.  The  fact  is,  Sam — pshaw !  I  don't 
mind  telling  him — the  fact  is,  my  wife  has  under- 
taken to  cure  me  of  some  of  my  little  bachelor 
habits." 

"Don't  you  allow  even  an  innocent  little 
'  deuce  ? ' "  inquired  Mr.  Sam  Blodget,  thinking 
it  would  be  a  long  time  before  he  came  into  har- 
ness. 

"  Innocent ! "  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  playfully. 
"  Somehow,  it  never  occun*ed  to  me  that  any 
thing  can  be  innocent  which  paves  the  way  for 
8uch  very  naughty  words  as  I  have  heard." 


THE   STOCKS.  11 

"  Oh,  that's  the  dodge  !  "  thought  the  gentle- 
man in  the  lond  waistcoat,  smoothing  his  already 
wonderfully  fitting  gloves,  in  the  attempt  to  sup- 
press a  whistle  that  would  have  relieved  him 
under  the  circumstances,  but  might  not  have  been 
exactly  the  thing,  considering  the  same.  It  was 
the  perpetual  aim  of  Mr.  Blodget  to  avoid  all  that 
might  be  pronounced  "  not  the  thing ; "  it  stood 
in  the  place  of  a  code  of  honor  with  him. 

"  Why,  Needham  used  to  hear  every  touch  of 
the  poker,"  said  Murray,  losing  sight  of  his  last 
remark  in  the  comfortable  glow  of  the  fire. 
"  That  small  chambermaid — don't  you  know, 
Sam  ?  We  used  to  call  her  the  Marcliioness  after 
Dick  Swiveler — used  to  insert  her  head  at  the 
door,  and  say,  '  If  you  please,  young  gentlemen, 
nobody's  to  touch  the  fire  but  me  on  no  ac- 
count.' " 

"  What  miserable  beings  you  must  have  been, 
according  to  your  own  stories ! "  said  Mrs.  Mur- 
ray, laying  down  her  book  reluctantly. 

She  was  frequently  the  listener  to  some  such 
agreeable  and  entertaining  reminiscences ;  they 
seemed  to  be  the  staple  of  Mr.  Blodget's  conver- 


12  THE  COOPBB8. 

sation  after  he  had  exhausted  the  weather  and  liis 
stock  of  compliments  to  her. 

"  He  ought  to  be  extremely  obliged  to  you  for 
coming  to  the  rescue,  'pon  honor." 

"  ThaCa  so  !  Pity  some  one  wouldn't  do  as 
much  for  you,"  observed  the  happy  man,  patron- 
izingly. "  I  often  say  to  Matty,  '  I  only  wish 
Sam  was  as  well  off  as  I  am.' " 

"  Henderson  been  round  to  see  you  yet,  Mrs. 
Cooper  ? "  inquired  their  visitor  at  this  juncture, 
declining  a  third  offer  of  a  chair. 

"  No,"  Mr.  Cooper  answered  for  his  wife. 
"  Steve's  no  lady's  man.  He  came  round  to-day 
to  say  he  wished  me  well,  but  he  made  it  a  rule 
not  to  go  into  society." 

"  Queer  stick  ! "  and  Mr.  Blodget  shrugged 
his  shoulders ;  "  never  could  make  him  out ;  by 
the  way,"  he  added,  with  a  degree  of  recollection 
pleasant  to  behold,  when  Mrs.  Cooper  had  been 
waiting  to  hear  the  remark  ever  since  the  waiter's 
tap  at  their  door  had  announced  his  arrival, — "  by 
the  way,  going  'round  to  Bob's  awhile  ? " 

"  "Well,  I  don't  know,  we  were  just  settled  for 
the  evening.     Matty  was  going  to  read  me  some- 


THE   STOCKS.  13 

thing — wasn't  you,  Matty  ?  and  we  were  going  to 
have  some  nuts  and  apples  to  top  off  with.  Matty 
generally  keeps  something  stowed  away  in  the 
side  closet.  She  looks  after  me  so  well,  that  I 
don't  have  to  think  for  myself  any  more." 

A  pleasant  smile  at  this  acknowledgment 
ottght  to  have  settled  the  question  of  going  out  at 
once. 

"  She  must  sing  for  you  some  night,  won't 
you,  Matty?"  continued  Murray,  glancing  at 
the  piano. 

"  I  don't  think  I  care  much  about  music," 
said  Mr.  Blodget,  reflectively,  admiring  the  dog's 
head  on  the  top  of  his  walking-stick,  "  unless  it's 
a  jolly  good  chorus,  like  '  Yive  1' Amour,'  or  '  Old 
Dog  Tray,'  or  '  Yilikens.'  '  You  used  to  sing  a 
good  thing,  Murray — '  Little  Pigee.'  I've  seen 
all  the  fellows  in  a  roar  lots  of  times,  Mrs.  Cooper, 
when  your  husband  was  on  that ;  'pon  honor,  it's 
the  most  laughable  thing !  "  and,  considering  that 
he  had  turned  a  very  neat  compliment  indeed, 
the  young  gentleman  made  a  sudden  pause. 

•'  Oh !  Matty  doesn't  care  about  that  sort  of 
thing,"  said   Murray,  looking   a  little   annoyed. 


14  THE  C00PEE8. 

He  knew  by  the  slight  flush  on  his  wife's  face, 
that  she  did  not  particularly  care  to  imagine  her 
husband  singing  comic  songs  at  a  table  full  of 
jolly  good  fellows,  which  to  her  conveyed  but  one 
idea — their  having  emptied  too  many  sherry  and 
champagne  bottles  for  their  own  respectability,  or 
the  good  of  general  society.  "Who's  going  round 
to-night  ? " 

"  Oh !  most  of  the  boys ;  it's  about  time  we 
were  off ! "  remarked  the  visitor,  a  little  sulkily, 
at  having  his  delicate  endeavors  to  be  agreeable 
nipped  in  the  bud  after  this  fashion. 

Down  in  the  bottom  of  his  heart,  there  was  a 
lurking  desire  to  stand  well  in  the  eyes  of  his 
friend's  wife.  He  had  to  confess  to  himself  that 
he  was  a  littl§  afraid  of  her,  not  that  she  was 
backward  in  her  welcome,  or  "  cut  him  up  " — to 
use  his  own  phrase.  On  the  contrary,  she  al- 
ways did  her  best  to  entertain  her  husband's 
former  associates.  There  was  no  pettishness  of 
manner,  no  "  mairied  woman's "  frown  thrown 
out  from  under  a  masked  battery  of  smiles  and 
civility ;  but  Mr.  Blodget  never  walked  off  with 
his  old  comrade,  as  on  this  occasion,  without  feel- 


THE   STOCKS.  15 

ing  that  he  had  much  better  not  have  done  so, 
and  that  he  never  would  ask  Murray  to  "  come 
round"  again. 

It  required  a  strong  effort  of  will  on  the  part 
of  Mrs.  Cooper  to  acquiesce  pleasantly  to  the  al- 
ternative of  a  lonely  evening,  or  the  society  of 
such  loungers  as  she  might  find  in  the  general 
parlor  below ;  and  to  smile  back  into  Murray's 
face  as  she  brought  his  cap  and  overcoat  from  the 
closet.  He  took  them,  a  little  ashamed  of  resist- 
ing the  strong  impulse  of  excusing  himself,  after 
all,  and  said,  "  You  won't  mind  this  once,  will 
you,  Matty  ?  Here's  a  good  fire,  and  a  new  book 
— ^you  want  to  read  that  book,  you  know  !  And 
you  can  send  round  for  some  oysters,  if  you'd  like 
them,  'round  to  Weller's." 

The  "  I  shall  do  very  well — never  mind  me," 
of  the  reply,  was  said  without  bitterness,  though 
a  great  deal  might  have  been  thrown  into  those 
simple  words  by  a  person  so  disposed ;  but  she 
closed  the  door  after  them  with  a  sigh  that  she 
kept  back  no  longer,  now  that  it  would  not  inter- 
fere with  his  evening's  pleasure. 

The  small  crimson  velvet  chair,  which  had 


16  TETB  COOPERS. 

been  one  of  her  bridal  presents,  witb  the  book 
and  paper-knife  on  the  table  before  it,  stood 
exactly  as  it  had  done  when  she  came  up  from 
dinner,  looking  forward  to  a  pleasant  evening 
alone  with  her  husband  :  they  had  not  enjoyed 
one  for  a  long  time,  from  the  multiplicity  of  their 
engagements.  She  seated  herself  in  it,  and  leaned 
towards  the  cheerful  blaze,  to  think  more  seriously 
than  she  had  done,  in  all  the  whirl  and  excitement 
of  the  past  eight  months.  Was  she  going  to  be 
a  happy  wife  ?  Could  she  make  Murray  happy, 
without  perpetual  self-sacrifice  ?  Why  had  they 
married  each  other?  Where  was  the  busy  tide 
of  life  whirling  them  to  ? 

She  knew  that  her  husband  had  been  set  adrift 
on  a  world  of  boarding-houses  at  a  tender  age,  in 
common  with  most  of  the  set  of  young  men  with 
whom  he  associated.  Those  who  had  comfortable 
homes  she  could  not  so  readily  excuse  for  haunt- 
ing restaurants  and  billiard-saloons,  and  using 
night-keys  as  freely  as  if  it  was  a  cross,  grumpy 
old  landlady  they  were  disturbing,  instead  of  their 
own  mothers  and  sisters. 

She  was  conscious  of  a  great  disappointment 


THE  STOCKS.  17 

and  a  very  heavy  heart,  the  first  time  Murray 
had  gone  out  with  them  after  their  marriage,  but 
then  his  excuse  seemed  reasonable :  "  It  won't  do 
to  let  them  think  you  hold  too  tight  a  rein."  This 
was  the  third  time  in  a  fortnight  that  Mr.  Blodget 
had  introduced  himself  and  his  "  hangup  over- 
coat "  to  the  peaceful  life  into  which  they  were 
fast  subsiding ;  this  third  and  last  call  had  brought 
into  exercise  her  whole  stock  of  wifely  patience 
and  submission,  darling  theories  of  hers,  in  com- 
mon with  many  other  untried  young  brides. 

Using  Mr.  Sam  Blodget's  phrase,  her  husband 
was  "  innocent "  enough  of  any  actual  wrong  do- 
ing. He  had  never  cared  for  wine,  being  betrayed 
into  excess  by  good  fellowship  alone,  the  few  times 
he  had  been  guilty  in  that  particular.  He  was 
honorable,  kind-hearted,  and  too  fond  of  her  to 
cause  her  anxiety,  if  he  once  could  be  made  to 
underetand  it ;  but  when  she  knew  what  his  former 
life  had  been,  she  saw  it  always  with  the  knowl- 
edge of  his  capabilities  for  better  things,  and  the 
hope  of  winning  him  to  sympathy  with  her  own 
more  refined  tastes  and  pursuits.  But  how  was  this 
to  be  accomplished  with  such  perpetual  interrup- 


18  THE   CO0PEE8. 

tions,  and  without  breaking  at  once  the  chain  of 
old  associations  ? 

She  knew  that  the  most  delicate  touch  was 
necessary  to  sever  these  links  without  defeating 
her  own  object ;  and,  while  she  shrank  from  un- 
dertaking it,  and  half  resolved  to  let  matters  take 
their  course,  enjoy  herself,  in  her  own  way,  with 
her  books  and  music,  the  "innocent  deuce"  of 
Mr.  Blodget  called  up  still  more  serious  reflec- 
tions. Hitherto,  her  husband  could  offer  as  good 
an  excuse  as  the  best  of  them  for  these  evening 
raids  upon  places  of  public  resort ;  but  now  he 
stood  without  any,  and  if  the  habit  should  grow 
upon  him,  and  be  confirmed  into  evil  courses,  the 
offence  would  lie  with  her. 

Some  inexperienced  young  wives,  full  of  good 
intentions,  "  a  wife's  influence,"  and  "  a  husband's 
duty,"  would  have  hesitated  but  a  short  time  in 
using  all  the  feminine  artillery  at  command — in- 
junctions, entreaties,  tears,  reproaches — and  all 
with  a  sincere  desire  for  the  real  good  of  their 
husbands,  and  to  discharge  their  own  wifely  duty ; 
but  there  are  dangerous  rocks  in  these  rapids  of 
reform,  and  she  must  be  a  skilful  pilot  who  ven- 


THE   STOCKS.  19 

tures  upon  them.  Mrs.  Cooper  had  all  these  mo- 
tives to  influence  her ;  but  she  knew  that,  in  order 
to  make  the  desired  change  and  progress  n^al^  it 
must  be  built  upon  a  stable  foundation  of  taste 
and  principle,  and  not  hurried  into  by  importu- 
nity, or  a  desire  to  please  her. 

The  young  wife's  face  had  a  weary,  anxious 
look,  not  pleasant  to  behold  so  early  in  married 
life.  It  was  not  selfishness  or  caprice  that  actu- 
ated her,  but  an  earnest  feeling  that  now  was  a 
perilous  turning-point  in  her  husband's  character, 
and  that  her  influence  would  be  responsible  for 
the  result. 

The  little  time-piece  on  the  mantel  ticked 
loudly  in  the  stillness  of  the  room ;  the  cold  wind 
came,  and  shook  the  blinds.  The  new  book  had 
not  been  reopened,  and  she  had  no  heart  to  touch 
the  keys  of  her  open  piano,  the  only  old,  familiar 
face  in  her  new  home. 

"I  wonder  how  many  such  evenings  I  must 
spend  this  winter,"  she  thought,  bitterly,  for  she 
began  to  have  an  undefined  fear  that  her  marriage 
had  been  "  a  leap  in  the  dark  " — to  end  in  disap- 
pointment.    With  all  her  earnest  thinking,  she  as 


20  THE   COOPERS. 

yet  had  found  no  clue  to  the  labyrinth.  Left  only 
to  her  own  influence,  she  had  no  fears,  but  wliere 
would  these  perpetual  interruptions  and  counter- 
acting influences  end  I 

"  I  wish  I  could  crotchet,  or  cared  for  fancy- 
work,  like  other  girls ;  I  always  despised  it  as 
such  a  waste  of  time  ;  but  people  get  so  absorbed 
in  it ;  I  don't  suppose  I  should  know  whether 
Murray  was  at  home  or  not  then,  but  I  Tiever  did 
any  thing  of  the  sort,  not  even  a  pair  of  slippers." 

The  fire-light,  or  the  warm  glow  of  the  drapery, 
seemed  to  brighten  her  face  presently,  and  the 
book  to  her  regained  its  original  charm  ;  that  she 
had  arrived  at  some  conclusion  was  evident,  and 
that  she  had  great  faith,  or  at  least  hope,  in  what 
she  had  decided  on,  was  not  to  be  doubted. 

Yet  Mrs.  Cooper  began  her  reforms  by  having 
a  secret  from  her  husband,  the  first  thing  she  had 
voluntarily  kept  back.  "We  do  not  excuse  her  for 
this  breach  of  confidence,  for  the  first  article  in 
our  matrimonial  creed  is,  that  without  the  utmost 
frankness  on  both  sides,  there  can  be  no  lasting 
happiness  in  so  close  a  friendship  ;  nevertheless, 
her  heart  did  not  condemn  her,  though  she  put 


THE  STOCKS.  21 

on  her  bonnet  with  a  little  tremor  the  morning 
that  she  started  out  on  her  mysterious  errand, 
and  went  back  for  her  blue  barege  veil,  after  she 
was  fairly  out  of  the  house.  A  needless  caution, 
for  her  unsuspecting  husband  was  at  his  busy 
post  in  the  Marine  Bank,  with  scarcely  time  to 
remember  her  existence  until  three  o'clock  should 
release  him. 

And,  on  her  return,  more  mystery.  The  cham- 
bermaid, coming  with  clean  towels,  found  the 
door  locked  on  the  inside,  and  Mrs.  Cooper's  face 
so  flushed  when  it  was  opened,  that  she  remarked 
to  the  young  lady  on  the  next  floor,  that  she 
guessed  "  some  people  could  blow  each  other  up 
as  well  as  others  ! "  Her  husband  noticed,  from 
the  opposite  side  of  the  street  when  he  came 
home,  that  the  blinds  were  drawn  down,  and 
sprang  up  the  steps  with  a  quicker  bound  than 
usual,  fearfnl  of  some  sudden  illness  or  unlooked 
for  misfortune.  She  was  wiser  next  day,  and  re- 
membered how  impossible  it  was  for  a  person  on 
the  side-walk  to  see  into  a  third  story  window. 

Once  it  happened  that  the  unsuspicious  hue- 


22  THE   COOPERS. 

band  was  on  the  very  point  of  discovering  how 
abuse  and  misplaced  his  confidence  had  been. 

It  was  a  dull  December  evening,  and  he  had 
not  found  "the  boys"  so  entertaining  as  usual; 
BO,  bethinking  himself  of  "  Matty,"  and  the  fresh 
pecan-nuts  in  the  side-closet,  his  wandering  steps 
were  turned  home  two  houre  earlier  than  usual. 

The  atmosphere  was  damp,  and  the  shop-win- 
dows lighted  the  slippery  pavement  indifi'erently 
through  the  blur  of  mist  and  darkness.  The  re- 
turning husband  withdrew,  turtle-wise,  into  the 
friendly  depths  of  his  coat-collar,  and  thought 
how  stupid  he  was  to  expose  himself  to  such  dis- 
agreeable surroundings  when  his  own  parlor  was 
always  so  pleasant,  and  his  wife  the  most  enter- 
taining and  agreeable  companion  he  had  ever 
met,  if  she  was  his  wife. 

"  That's  because  she  reads  so  much,  I  suppose. 
She  can  talk  over  the  news  of  the  day  as  sensibly 
as  any  body  at '  Bob's,'  and  seems  to  take  an  in- 
terest. I  hate  a  woman  who  shuts  you  up  always 
on  foreign  news,  and  expects  you  to  talk  millinery 
and  gossip.  She  manages  to  pick  up  a  great  deal 
more  out  of  the  papers  than  I  have  time  to ;  that 


THE  STOCKS.  23 

was  a  very  interesting  thing  she  read  out  of 
Household  Words  last  night — just  the  sort  of 
thing  I  like  ;  I  wonder  how  she  knew  it.  I 
should  go  to  sleep  in  ten  minutes  over  one  of 
your  regular  love  stories.  Wouldn't  I  like  to 
have  a  wife  like  Joe  Draper's,  always  telling  him 
where  to  go,  and  when  to  come  home !  I'd  show 
her ! "  and,  finding  himself  nearing  a  familiar 
lamp-post  at  this  emphatic  break  in  his  soliloquy, 
he  wound  up  with  a  species  of  penitence,  by  no 
means  an  unfamiliar  sensation,  at  leaving  his  wife 
so  much  alone,  mixed  with  a  sudden  recollection 
and  admiration  of  the  amiable  way  in  which  she 
bore  such  desertions. 

"  You  are  home  very  early  to-night.  I  did 
not  expect  you  for  two  hours  at  least,"  was  not 
exactly  the  surprised  and  delighted  greeting  which 
he  had  promised  himself. 

He  could  not  see  how  she  had  been  employed, 
either,  to  take  his  absence  and  arrival  so  coolly. 
There  was  not  so  much  as  a  book  on  the  table  be- 
fore her,  when  he  opened  the  door ;  she  sat  bolt 
upright  on  the  lounge,  doing  nothing  at  all,  but 
her  cheeks  were  flushed,  and  her  manner  a  little 


24  THE   COOPERS. 

nervous.  However,  the  chill  went  off  presently, 
with  that  of  the  outer  atmosphere,  and  Mre. 
Cooper  exerted  herself  most  successfully  to  enter- 
tain her  unlooked-for  husband. 

N^ew- Year's  morning  ;  and  the  ever  lavish 
Murray  Cooper  presented  his  wife  with  an  ele- 
gantly wrought  bracelet,  receiving  a  cigar-stand 
in  return.  It  was  a  very  pretty  bronze  trifle,  and 
looked  extremely  well  on  the  etagere  /  but,  for  all 
that,  he  was  disappointed.  It  was  what  anybody 
might  have  given  him,  and  somehow  he  had  ex- 
pected more  thought  from  his  wife ;  but  he  smoth- 
ered his  injured  feelings  under  a  plentiful  break- 
fast, and  started  on  his  round  of  calls  in  a  toilet 
that  would  have  done  credit  to  Mun*ay  Cooper, 
tlie  bachelor. 

Reaching  home  again  at  night,  tired  and  bored, 
sick  of  the  confectionery  and  champagne,  the  oys- 
ters and  boned  turkey  he  had  surfeited  himself 
with,  out  of  politeness,  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
he  indulged  in  certain  fervent  wishes  that  "every- 
body had  been  there,  and  he  should  find  Matty 
and  a  cup  of  hot  coffee  alone." 

He  found  the  table  laid  in  the  morning  for 


THK   STOCKS.  25 

visitors,  cleared  of  its  debris,  and  his  wife  still  in 
her  best  dress ;  and  her  best  looks,  though  she 
had  counted  fifty-one  calls,  brewing  the  coifee  in  a 
pretty  French  urn,  with  the  tete-^-t^te  set  belong- 
ing to  it  neatly  arranged  for  his  benefit, — more 
than  that,  a  dressing-gown  aired  itself  leisurely 
before  the  fire,  and  appeared  to  be  contemplating 
with  evident  approval,  a  pair  of  slippers  that  it 
was  destined  to  see  a  great  deal  of. 

"  Holla,  Matty,"  he  ejaculated,  arrested  in  the 
midst  of  a  matrimonial  salute  by  the  sight  of  this 
unexpected  array.  "  "Who  sent  'em  to  me  ?  Where 
did  the  dressing-gown  come  from  ?  Just  what  I 
wanted  ;  I  never  had  one  in  my  life.  Singular, 
isn't  it  ?  when  I've  had  'most  every  thing  1 " 

"  I  don't  know  when  you  ever  had  any  use  for 
one,"  responded  Mrs.  Murray,  making  herself  very 
busy  in  the  removal  of  wrappers,  and  suggesting 
that  it  might  as  well  be  tried  on  at  once. 

Never  was  a  first  ball-dress  considered  more 
becoming  !  Mr.  Cooper  stood  still  for  his  wife  to 
turn  down  the  cufis  to  precisely  the  proper  point, 
tightened  the  handsome  cord  and  tassels  with  es- 
pecial unction,  and  thrust  a  fresh  white  handker- 


/ 


26  THE  COOPESS. 

chief  into  the  breast-pocket  as  he  marched  toward 
the  pier-glass  admiringly. 

"  Splendid  fit  !  Very  neat  pattern,  not  too 
showy,  jiist  right !  I  hate  any  thing  too  exten- 
sive, like  Sam's  now,  red  flowers  on  a  bright  yel- 
low ground.  Silk  lining,  too  ;  no  sham  about  it ! " 
and  he  slapped  his  fine  broad  chest,  inclosed  in 
this  admirable  dressing-gown,  with  a  heartiness 
pleasant  to  behold.  "  And  those  slippers ;  just 
hand  them  here,  will  you,  Matty  ?  But  where  in 
the  world  did  these  things  come  from  ? " 

"  Better  try  them  on,  too,"  suggested  Matty, 
likewise  radiant  with  satisfaction ;  "  and  then  I'll 
tell  you." 

The  damp,  mud-splashed  boots  were  kicked  off 
unceremoniously ;  and,  walking  to  the  rug,  the 
unconscious  man  deliberately  set  his  feet  into  the 
snare  ! 

"  Deep  blue,  what's  that  on  the  toe  ? — a  puss 
curled  up  to  sleep,  remarkably  well  done,  quite 
catty  /  out  with  it,  they  came  by  express  from 
Baltimore,  and  you've  kept  the  secret.  High  time 
the  girls  remembered  they  had  a  brother.  Why 
they  haven't  sent  me  a  pair  of  slippers  for  two 


THE   STOCKS.  27 

years  before,  and  I  used  to  have  them  every  birth- 
day, and  Kew- Year's." 

"  You  really  like  them  ?~" 

"  Easy  as  an  old  shoe  ;  wonderful  guess  at  my 
size.  Like  them  ?  To  be  sure  I  do.  I  only  wish 
you'd  worked  them  for  me,  Matty,"  and  his  voice 
sank  into  a  more  tender  cadence  as  he  stooped 
down  and  patted  her  head,  while  she  still  knelt  on 
the  heartli-rug. 

"  "Well,  I  did,  Murray,  every  stitch,"  she  said, 
with  a  sudden  trembling  in  her  voice  that  she  felt 
very  much  ashamed  of,  and  tried  to  control. 

"  You  ?  Why  I  thought  you  said  you  had 
never  worked  a  pair  in  your  life,  and  hated  worsted 
work  beyond  measure  ;  I  thought  of  asking  you 
to  do  me  a  pair,  only  I  remembered  that." 

"  I  never  did,"  said  his  wife,  not  unwillingly 
encircled  by  his  arm,  and  accepting  his  kiss  of 
thanks.  "  I  made  such  blunders  I  1  worked  so 
hard,  and  had  to  shut  myself  up,  you  know,  for 
fear  you  would  find  out  and  spoil  all.  Don't  you 
remember  one  night  you  came  home  early,  and 
found  me  doing  nothiiig  ?  "Well,  I  only  had  time 
to  throw  my  canvas  and  worsteds  under  the  table ; 


28  THE   COOPERS. 

and  there  they  lay  until  next  morning,  before  I 
could  get  a  chance  to  put  them  away  without 
your  seeing  me.  I  was  so  afraid  you  would  drop 
something  that  evening,  or  find  out  somehow  I  " 

"  By !  I  beg  your  pardon,  Matty,"  Mur- 
ray broke  out,  suddenly  ;  "  but  if  you  only  knew 
how  much  more  I  think  of  these  slippers  because 
you  never  worked  a  pair  for  any  body  else ! 
Regular  beauties,  ain't  they  ? "  And,  seated  in 
his  own  lounging-chair,  he  elevated  his  feet  ad- 
miringly on  the  background  of  the  black  marble 

mantel. 

****** 

"  Going  round  awhile  ? "  inquired  the  highly 
original  and  entertaining  Mr.  Blodget,  one  windy 
evening  towards  spring. 

Mr.  Blodget  was  unaltered  by  the  course  of 
time,  except  that  the  ends  of  his  cravat  "  flared  " 
in  an  extremely  demonstrative  manner,  instead  of 
being  gathered  into  the  subdued  and  rather  re- 
served bow  which  fashion  demanded  when  we 
first  made  his  acquaintance. 

"  No,  thank  you,  Mrs.  Cooper ;  only  looked 
in ;  couldn't  think  of  sitting  down." 


THE   STOCKS.  29 

"  I  guess  you'd  better,"  said  his  friend,  lazily  ; 
"  you  might  find  worse  quarters  such  a  night  as 
this.  Seems  to  me  I  did  promise  Joe  to  look  in 
awhile,  but  I  guess  I  won't ;  iCs  too  much  trovhle 
to  put  on  my  hooted 

His  wife  glanced  up,  and  down  again  as  quickly 
to  her  work  ;  but  he  caught  the  peculiar  smile  of 
meaning  that  she  could  not  repress. 

The  domesticated  husband  began  to  have  a 
faint  glimmering  of  the  truth ;  but  he  did  not 
return  the  look. 

"  Did  it  ever  occur  to  you,  Sam,"  said  he,  ad- 
dressing himself  deliberately  and  exclusively  to 
his  visitor,  "  that  slippers  might  be  regarded  in  the 
light  of  man-traps  ?  " 

"  Kever  !  "  returned  the  unconscious  Blodget. 
"  Really,  I  can't  say  that  tJiey  ever  did  !  Quite 
an  idea,  ain't  it,  though  ?  Remarkably  handsome 
ones  those  of  yours." 


CHAPTEK  n. 

FINDING    THE    LEAK. 

"  Home's  home,  isn't  it,  now  ? "  said  Mr.  Murray 
Cooper,  complacently,  as  lie  seated  himself  at  an 
inviting  supper-table,  and  admired  his  wife  sitting 
opposite  to  him  busied  with  the  tray.  Mrs.  Cooper 
was  by  no  means  intended  for  a  burning  and  shin- 
ing light  in  society,  but  she  made  a  veiy  pleasant 
and  mellow  radiance,  so  to  speak,  in  the  more 
limited  circle  of  her  own  fireside.  And  though  it 
was  "  a  furnished  house  "  which  she  had  at  length 
persuaded  her  husband  to  take  as  an  experiment, 
she  enjoyed  the  relief  from  the  publicity  of  board- 
ing, and  the  complete  change  in  Mr.  Cooper's 
habits,  which  time  had  wrought,  aided  by  her 
prudent  tact.  Perhaps  the  advent  of  the  young 
gentleman  asleep  in  the  little  nursery  up  staire 
had  something  to  do  with  it. 

Mr.  Cooper  had  "  tastes  "  and  a  precedent  for 


FINDINO  THE   LEAK.  81 

all  his  likings  and  aversions  in  some  of  the  dis- 
tinguished family  of  which  he  was  a  member. 
The  "  Mmray  "  was  a  family  name,  and  his  soul 
aspired  to  the  scale  of  living  to  which  it  belonged ; 
but  his  means  were  several  thousand  a  year  short 
of  its  gratification.  Indeed,  if  Mrs.  Cooper  had 
not  been  practical  in  an  extreme  degree,  and  ex- 
perienced, as  to  the  value  of  money  in  itself  con- 
sidered, it  is  doubtful  whether  they  could  have  got 
on  at  all.  The  recklessness  with  which  her  husband 
assumed  matrimonial  charge  and  responsibility, 
and  the  style  in  which  his  bachelor  expenditures 
had  been  conducted,  were  rather  alarming  to  one 
who  had  always  had  need  to  calculate  ways  and 
means  closely.  For  Mrs.  Cooper,  though  very- 
proud  of  h&r  family  in  a  certain  way,  was  only  a 
Smith — Martha  Smith ;  and  it  is  well  known  that 
the  Smiths  cannot  subsist  upon  their  name  and 
connections  as  a  Murray  or  a  Cooper  might  do. 

Poverty  among  the  Coopers  was  being  well 
dressed — ^living  in  a  large  house,  waited  on  by 
plenty  of  servants,  but  always  troubled  by  an  ac- 
cumulation of  liabilities.  Still,  as  Mr.  Cooper, 
Sen.,  often  remarked,   "people  must  live,"  by 


32  THE    OOOPEBS. 

which  he  meant  that  Tie  must,  whatever  became 
of  the  tradesmen  he  employed.  Poverty,  as 
known  to  the  Smiths,  included  self-denial,  indus- 
try, and  a  great  many  "  wants  reduced  to  must 
haves,"  before  they  were  satisfied.  The  younger 
branches  of  the  Bird  Coopers,  the  De  Lancy  Coop- 
ers, and  the  Griswold  Murrays  looked  down  upon 
their  cousin  as  having  sunk  several  degrees  in  the 
social  scale  when  he  left  one  room  in  the  third 
story  of  a  fashionable  city  boarding-house  for  the 
whole  of  a  small  but  comfortable  house  beyond 
Seventh  Avenue,  whereas,  inasmuch  as  he  man- 
aged, with  his  wife's  oversight,  to  live  somewhere 
within  the  range  of  his  income,  and  paid  for  most 
of  the  clothes  he  wore  and  the  food  he  ate,  some 
unprejudiced  persons  might  have  ranked  him  as 
morally  in  the  ascendant. 

Literally,  Mrs.  Cooper  did  not  know  where  to 
commence  her  financial  experiments  when  her 
husband's  idiosyncrasy  as  to  money  matters  first 
was  made  apparent,  which  was  not  until  a  mother's 
duties  had  been  added  to  a  wife's  cares ;  but 
she  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  starting- 
point  of  charity  was  a  good  place  to  commence 


FINDING  THE   LEAK.  33 

enforcing  its  respectable  relative,  economy,  and  so 
began  with  her  own  personal  expenditures. 

Her  husband  had  a  few  prejudices  to  overcome 
before  he  could  be  induced  to  set  aside  the  ex- 
tremely modest  amount  she  proposed  from  his 
salary.  "  He  didn't  believe  in  an  allowance. 
"What  was  the  good  in  knowing  what  you  spent  ? 
It  did'nt  make  it  any  less,  and,  in  fact,  it  was  de- 
cidedly uncomfortable  to  be  posted  on  the  subject. 
He  never  had  an  allowance  ;  the  girls  and  mother 
never  had  one.  N^o ;  they  always  got  whatever 
they  chose,  and  the  bills  were  sent  to  the  store. 
It  wasn't  ihew  business  when  they  were  paid.  To 
be  sure,  the  governor  always  grumbled  when  they 
came  in,  and  threatened  all  sorts  of  things,  but 
nobody  ever  minded." 

"  But  /  should,"  interposed  the  governor's 
daughter-in-law.  "  I  would  have  gone  without, 
first — and  would  now,  rather  than  see  you  worried. 
It's  a  great  deal  better  to  know  just  what  you  can 
afford  to  get ;  only  try  it,  Murray,  or  let  me,  for 
baby  and  myself.  If  you  only  knew  how  I  hate 
to  say,  '  charge  it ! '  " 

"  Poll,  poh,  Martha,  I  didn't  think  you  were 


34  THE   COOPEKS. 

such  a  goose !  Why,  most  women  wonld  jump 
at  it.  I  never  had  an  '  expense-book,'  as  you  call 
it,  since  I  was  bom.  Books  are  bothers  enough 
at  the  bank.  Who  always  wants  to  be  marching 
up  a  column  of  figures,  and  ruminating  on  a  '  sum 
total,'  except  it's  a  balance  in  one's  favor,  which  I 
believe  I  never  yet  have  had  the  pleasure  of  expe- 
riencing. When  I  have  the  money,  you're  wel- 
come to  it,  you  know  that.  Tliese  private  pm-ses 
make  a  wife  altogether  too  independent.  They 
are  the  very — I  beg  your  pardon,  the  miscMef^ 
you  know  ! " 

"  But  suppose,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  "  I  should 
wish  to  make  my  husband  another  present,  how 
unsentimental  it  would  sound  ! — '  My  love,  please 
give  me  ten  dollars  to  buy  you  a  gold  pencil ! '  or 
to  have  my  nice  little  siirprise  spoiled  by  the  bill 
being  presented  beforehand  at  the  office  !  or,  hav- 
ing to  manage  Mrs.  Green's  fashion,  and  take 
what  1  wanted  from  your  pocket,  little  by  little, 
after  you  were  asleep  at  night !  To  be  sure,  y<m 
never  would  miss  it." 

"  Now,  that's  rather  liard  on  a  fellow,  Martha, 
after  all  my  reforms !     Don't  I  even  stop  in  an 


FINDING  THE  LEAK.  35 

omnibus  to  count  change  ?  Haven't  I  done  won- 
ders in  TWt  bringing  home — all  sorts  of  things,  you 
know  ?    I'll  bet  you  two  to  one — " 

"  I  never  bet,  recollect,"  interrupted  Mrs.  Mur- 
ray, in  a  grave  tone  that  belied  the  mischief  of 
her  smile — at  the  idea  of  her  husband's  reforms  I 

"  Well,  I  wouldn't  be  afraid  to — that  I  can  tell 
to  a  dot  every  cent  I've  got  about  me  to-night." 

"Suppose  I  agree  to  give  up  the  allowance 
if  you  can  ? "  suggested  the  unbelieving  help- 
mate. 

"  Done  I  "  And  the  porte-monnaie  was  drawn 
forth  triumphantly.  It  so  happened  that  a  little 
boot-bill  of  two  or  three  years'  standing  had  been 
presented  that  evening,  which  had  caused  an  in- 
spection of  cash  on  hand,  ending  in  an  invitation 
the  collector  was  perfectly  accustomed  to — to  call 
again. 

"  There's  two  fives — Butcher  &  Drover's — do 
you  see  ?  and  a  ten,  Rhode  Island  money,  a  three 
and  a  one,  and  seventy-five  cents  in  change.  No 
allowance  carries  the  day,  madam." 

"  Not  quite  so  close.  I  can  see ;  and  bank  notes 
never  are  quite  Cologne.  Now  suppose  you  look 
in  your  pockets." 


36  THE   COOPEK8. 

"  Oh,  I'm  quite  cured  of  thai  / — no  more  change 
lying  around  loose. ' 

Two  of  these  convenient  receptacles  emptied 
presented  only  a  knife,  pencil,  two  small  screws, 
and  a  box  of  leads.  In  the  breast  pocket  of  his 
coat  the  hand  made  a  sudden  pause. 

Mrs.  Cooper  was  in  turn  triumphant,  as  she  saw 
a  flush  of  discomposure  rise  to  her  husband's  face. 

"  Stupid  ! — oh,  I  remember  now  the  change  at 
Delmonico's  for  my  lunch,  you  know  ! "  And  the 
discomforted  man  drew  forth  two  cigars,  a  gold 
dollar,  a  bill,  and  some  small  change. 

This  was  the  history  of  the  allowance,  impor- 
tant, since,  from  its  practical  working,  Mr.  Cooper 
first  began  to  understand  a  faint  glimmer  of  the 
important  truth,  "a  penny  saved  is  twopence 
got ; "  and,  as  is  often  common  with  enthusiastic 
minds,  he  plunged  into  reforms  on  his  own  account 
to  a  most  alarming  extent. 

This  was,  after  their  essay  at  housekeeping, 
Mre.  Cooper's  plan  again,  though  he  often  ignored 
that  fact,  and  congratulated  himself  on  the  bril- 
liant idea. 

He  gave  up  smoking  for  two  months  and  a 


FINDING   THE   LEAK.  37 

half ;  then  had  a  few  cigars  some  one  had  given 
him  down  town ;  afterwards  a  bunch  of  some 
choice  brand,  Loper,  a  friend  of  his,  who  was  in 
the  business,  had  desired  him  to  try  ;  and  finally 
a  half  box  was  smuggled  in  quietly,  and  replaced 
at  intervals.  He  wore  really  shabby  clothes 
through  the  hot  weather,  but  brought  home  a 
choice  assortment  of  white  jean,  Marseilles,  and  a 
fancy  check  suit,  the  very  last  three  days  of  Sep- 
tember heat.  He  undertook  self-shaving  in  the 
most  virtuous  manner,  and  annoyed  Mrs.  Cooper 
three  days  in  the  week  by  forgetting  to  do  so,  and 
presenting  quite  too  stiff  an  upper  lip  to  please 
any  one  neat  almost  to  fastidiousness.  He  talked 
a  great  deal  about  table  economy,  inspected  the 
ash  Ifeap  to  see  that  the  cook  threw  away  no  avail- 
able lump  of  coal,  and  even  was  accustomed  to 
inquire  "  what  had  become  of  that  beef  bone," 
having  heard  accidentally  that  a  good  family  soup 
might  be  made  of  a  beef  bone  with  a  few  vege- 
tables. In  fact,  these  last  symptoms  had  grown  very 
troublesome,  and  Mrs.  Cooper  began  to  wish  most 
devoutly  that  Murray  would  "  let  her  keep  house," 
as  was  her  lawful  right,  and  even  suggested  that, 


38  THE  CJ00PEB8. 

if  he  would  give  the  reins  entirely  into  her  hands, 
she  would  undertake  to  drive  safely  through  the 
year's  losses  and  expenses.     She  had  failed  in  con- 
verting him   to   one  of  her  principal  doctrines, 
however,  that  of  paying  ready  money  for  every 
thing.      July   and  January  were  still  rendered 
miserable  by  the  successive  arrival  of   yellow 
envelops,  known  at  once  by  their  having  no  post- 
mark and  the  extreme  briefness  of  their  address. 
They  always  gave  her  a  headache,  for  she  knew 
precisely  the  effect  they  would  produce  when  her 
husband  caught  sight  of  them,  no  matter  how 
amiable  or  cheerful  he  might  be  at  the  moment. 
This  very  evening,  when  Mr.  Cooper  so  emphati- 
cally pronounced  "  home  to  be  home  " — and  in- 
deed it  looked  so  in  the  bright  neatness  of  her 
household  ways,  and  especially  in  contemplation 
of  the  well-spread  supper-table,   at  which  they 
were  seated — his  wife  was  inwardly  disquieted  by 
knowing  that  her  own  hands  would  be  obliged  to 
"put  rancor  in  the  vessel  of  his  peace"  by  bring- 
ing forth  the  grocer's  half-yearly  account,  at  the 
amount  of  which  she  had  not  ventured  to  glance. 
"Now,  what  shall  I  do  for  your  comfort  or 


FUroiNO  THE  LEAK.  39 

amusement  this  evening,  old  lady?"  inquired 
this  really  devoted  Benedict,  as  he  bit  off  the 
end  of  a  cigar,  and  fumbled  behind  an  engraving 
by  Landseer  for  the  match-box,  that  he  always 
insisted  on  having  there,  just  where  he  could 
reach  it. 

"  There's  the  paper — but  that  I've  read ;  and 
I  looked  through  '  Harper '  as  I  came  along. 
Shall  I  crack  some  nuts  ?  That  reminds  me  that 
I  must  get  one  of  those  patent-lever  nut-crackers. 
I  saw  one  at  Smith's  to-day,  and  a  gridiron,  the 
most  complete  an-angement  you  ever  saw  for  do- 
ing a  steak — catches  the  smoke  and  the  gravy  at 
the  same  time." 

"  How  much  was  it  ?  You  know  ours  came 
with  the  stove,  and  isn't  two  years  old  yet." 

"  Oh,  a  dollar  or  so,  I  suppose — a  mere  trifle. 
Must  you  sew  to-night  ?  Always  that  everlasting 
work-basket !  Why  don't  you  have  a  seamstress  ? 
How  much  would  it  cost  now  to  have  all  that 
pile  sewed  up  for  once  ? " 

"  A  dollar  or  so,"  retorted  Mrs.  Murray,  play- 
fully ;   and,  as  she   drew  out  her  thimble   and 


40  •     THE   C00PEE8. 

needle-book,  the  grocer's  communication  was  dis- 
covered on  top  of  her  work-box. 

"  Had  any  letters  to-day  ?  who  is  that  from  ? 
I  say,  Matty,  suppose  we  should  begin  to  think  of 
a  little  place  in  the  country,  next  spring  ?  Law- 
ton  was  talking  about  that  lot  on  the  bend  of  the 
Bronx,  you  know,  again,  to-day."  And  two  or 
three  satisfactory  puffs  filled  up  a  short  pause,  as 
Mr.  Cooper  threw  himself  back  in  his  own  par- 
ticular easy  chair.  "  We  must  have  saved  some- 
thing this  year  towards  it,  you're  such  an  indus- 
trious little  woman,  and  deserve  to  have  a  house 
of  your  own,  and  every  thing  nice  about  yon,  if 
anybody  does.  Whom  did  you  say  that  was 
from  ?  It's  time  you  heard  from  your  aunt,  isn't 
it?"  And  a  hand  was  stretched  past  her,  as, 
with  the  most  complacent  air,  Mr.  Cooper  pos- 
sessed himself  of  the  missive. 

His  wife's  spirits  had  gradually  been  sinking 
since  the  opening  of  her  work-box.  She  knew 
perfectly  well  that  she  was  considered  as  respon- 
sible for  every  item  of  the  account,  as  if  each 
barrel  of  flour  and  pound  of  coffee  had  been  pur- 
chased for  her  sole  individual  benefit.     Mr.  Coop- 


FINDING   THE   LEAK.  41 

er's  face,  clouded  with  the  direction  of  the  letter, 
darkened  with  breaking  open  the  envelop  ;  the 
storm  burst  with  his  first  glance  at  the  sum  total. 

"  A  hundred  and  fifteen  dollars  !  did  you  see 
that,  Martha  ? — a  hundred  dollars  and  over,  when 
it  ought  not  to  have  been  thirty-five,  with  all  I 
paid  in  July.  "What  in  the  world  did  you  order 
when  I  was  away  in  the  fall  ?  I  never  had  these 
things  charged." 

"  Only  what  was  necessary." 

"  ISTecessary !  1  should  think  so,  with  all  the 
waste  that  goes  on  in  that  kitchen.  I  wish  you'd 
see  after  your  cook,  Martha,  as  I've  told  you  a 
hundred  times.  It  would  be  a  great  deal  cheaper 
to  put  out  this  everlasting  sewing,  and  attend  to 
your  house  a  little  more." 

"  I  try  to  do  both,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  mildly, 
bending  before  the  gust,  as  it  were,  knowing  it  to 
be  inevitable. 

"  Try !  yes,  I  dare  say ;  it  looks  like  it,  with 
all  the  bread  I  see  thrown  out — enough  to  feed  a 
dozen  poor  families.  Three  barrels  of  flour !  no 
wonder." 

"  There  is  quite  half  of  the  last  one  yet." 


42  THE   C00PEE8. 

"  And  sugar  and  coffee ;  don't  tell  me.  There's 
Lawton  says  th&y  use  only  a  half  barrel  of  white 
sugar  every  year.  JSis  wife  does  her  jelly  in 
coffee  crushed." 

So  had  Mrs.  Cooper  until  she  found  that  it  was 
cheaper  to  use  that  which  did  not  need  refining, 
and  her  husband  never  thought  he  could  touch 
mutton  or  game  without  currant-jelly,  and  had 
almost  a  juvenile  fondness  for  sweetmeats  of  every 
description.  She  knew  perfectly  well  what  be- 
came of  the  sugar. 

. "  And  butter — ^yes,  it's  the  butter.  How  much 
do  you  think  we've  had  since  October  ? "  said  her 
husband,  presently,  with  the  air  of  a  virtuous 
judge  condemning  a  criminal  found  guilty  in 
every  point  of  an  indictment.  "  I  told  you  Ann 
wasted  butter  from  the  first.  How  can  you  ex- 
pect we  shall  ever  get  along  in  the  world,  Martha, 
if  you  don't  see  after  your  servants  ?  What's  the 
use  of  my  denying  myself  &o&ry  thmg  ? — ^for  Mr. 
Cooper  here  recollected  a  cane,  a  pair  of  fur-lined 
gloves,  and  a  fancy  travelling-cap  that  he  had 
severally  dismissed  from  his  thoughts  in  the  most 
resolute  manner — "every  thing,  I  may  say,  for 


FINDING   THE   LEAK.  4S' 

your  sake  and  the  boy's,  if  this  is  the  way  you  are 
to  go  on." 

It  was  certainly  an  unexpected  amount  to  Mrs. 
Cooper,  who,  invariably  economical,  thought  she 
had  been  especially  careful  the  last  six  months. 
She  was  very  sorry.  It  was  hard  when  she  too 
could  enumerate  self-denials  of  time  and  patience, 
and  had  braved  cross  looks,  and  spoiled  dinners, 
and  "  warnings,"  with  a  house  full  of  company,  in 
the  inspection  of  Ann's  closets  and  safes,  and  re- 
peated rebukes  and  corrections  of  her  carelessness. 
There  was  nothing  she  shrank  from  so  much  as  an 
approach  to  meanness,  or  being  considered  so  by 
others.  Perhaps  it  was  her  own  special  weakness, 
this  dread ;  but  even  that  she  tried  to  put  down 
in  doing  a  housekeeper's  duty  faithfully. 

Her  husband,  not  in  the  least  pacified  by  her 
admission  that  "  it  might  have  been  the  butter," 
replaced  the  bill  in  its  envelop  with  the  air  of  a 
man  whose  substance  is  "  wasted  by  riotous  liv- 
ing," and  sent  it  skimming  on  to  the  table — to  the 
floor,  indeed,  under  the  lounge,  where  his  wife 
found  it  in  dusting  the  next  morning.  She  was 
rather  heavy  hearted,   for  the  evening,   which 


44  THE   COOPERS. 

promised  so  much,  closed  very  uncomfortably,  she 
stitching  away  in  silence,  and  her  husband,  de- 
clining to  amuse  himself  or  be  entertained,  gloom- 
ed over  the  fire,  after  his  cigar  was  finished,  and 
stalked  off  to  bed  an  hour  earlier  than  usual. 

"  Keally  I  cannot  understand  it.  I  thought  I 
had  been  so  very  careful.  I  don't  wonder  Murray- 
is  discouraged ;  and  yet  I  don't  see  how  I  could 
have  done  without  any  thing  we  have  had." 

Mrs.  Cooper  laid  down  her  duster,  and  opened 
the  uncomfortable  account.  It  was  a  very  "  long 
face,"  and  a  very  perplexed  one  that  the  opposite 
mirror  reflected  ;  but  it  brightened  visibly  before 
she  had  finished  her  inspection  of  the  various 
items,  and  her  cheerfulness  had  entirely  returned, 
even  to  gayetj,  before  she  had  finished  copying 
off  some  of  them  on  a  sheet  by  themselves.  K  she 
had  made  any  discoveries,  she  kept  them  to  herself 
that  evening ;  but,  when  her  husband  hung  up 
his  overcoat  at  the  bank  in  which  he  was  teller 
the  next  day,  and  felt  in  the  outside  pocket  for  a 
clean  handkerchief,  he  found  with  it  a  note,  in  his 
wife's  handwriting,  addressed  to  himself. 

It  was  odd.    Perhaps  he  had  been  too  hasty 


FINDING   THE   LEAK.  46 

in  condemning  her,  or  too  severe  rather,  consider- 
ing how  very  fond  she  was  of  him,  and  how  she 
felt  even  a  word.  Poor  child  !  He  would  over- 
look it,  this  once  ;  and  so  he  broke  the  seal. 

He  thought  it  was  another  bill,  at  first  glance, 
and  that  she  had  been  afraid  to  give  it  to  him 
after  his  late  outburst ;  but  it  was  in  his  wife's 
handwriting,  and  headed — 


"Waste"  foe  1856! 

1  bottle  of  brandy, 

$1  25 

1  box  of  cigars, 

4  50 

1  gallon  of  brandy, 

5  00 

1  demijohn, 

1  00 

1  box  of  cigars, 

4  20 

1  case  of  claret. 

5  00 

1  gallon  of  Sherry  wine. 

6  00 

1  box  of  cigars, 

4  50 

1  box  of  cigars, 

4  20 

$35  65 

He  could  not  understand  it  at  all  at  first ;  but,  as 
he  glanced  at  the  dates,  each  one  made  it  clearer 
and  clearer.  Really  he  could  not  have  believed 
that  these  little  "  stores,"  laid  in,  from  time  to 
time,  for  himself  and  a  friend  or  so,  who  was  ac- 


46  THE  C00PEE8. 

customed  to  "  drop  in,"  could  amount  to  so  much. 
Mrs.  Cooper  did  not  drink  brandy,  or  Sherry  wine, 
or  smoke  cigars,  so  tlie  "  waste"  lay  at  his  own 
door  after  all. 

Mrs.  Cooper,  sitting  by  the  front  window,  at 
twelve  o'clock,  saw  an  errand  boy  arrive  with  a 
return  dispatch.  It  was  very  short,  but  quite  to 
the  point. 

"  Deae  Wife  :  I  own  up.    Sold ! 
Yours  truly, 

MUREAY  COOPEB.' 


CHAPTEK  m. 
"fetch"  and  caeey. 

The  dog  that  will  fetch  will  carry.— Old  Proverb. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  we  labor  under 
the  delusion  common  among  fond  parents  in  re- 
garding any  of  our  heroines  perfect. 

Mrs.  Murray  Cooper  was  industrious  and 
cheerful,  and,  as  far  as  she  knew  how  to  be,  eco- 
nomical ;  but  she  had  her  own  human  weakness. 
When  she  commenced  housekeeping,  she  had 
still  every  thing  to  learn.  Conscious  of  this  fact, 
and  that  her  sway  as  Miss  Smith  had  been  con- 
fined almost  entirely  to  the  unruly  urchins  of  her 
aunt's  nursery,  she  was  afraid  of  her  servants, 
and  occasionally  altogether  too  yielding  and  con- 
ciliating for  their  relative  position  of  mistress  and 
maid.  She  dreaded  open  insubordination ;  she 
dreaded  change  ;  she  believed  that  her  household 


48  THE   C00PEE8. 

kingdom  would  go  to  ruins  if  Ann,  the  cook,  should 
leave  her,  and  shut  her  eyes  entirely  to  Julia's  de- 
linquencies, though  fretted  daily  by  the  neglect  of 
her  duties  as  combined  nurse  and  chambermaid, 
which  she  could  not  avoid  feeling  if  she  would 
not  see. 

"  Pitchers  empty,  as  usual,"  said  Mr.  Cooper, 
grasping  the  handle  of  the  article  in  question,  which 
flew  up  in  his  hand,  as  light  weight  always  will. 

"  Oh,  I  am  so  sorry !  Here,  let  me  get  it  for 
you."  And  Mrs.  Cooper  knotted  her  dressing- 
gown  about  her  waist,  and  twisted  up  the  long 
hair  she  had  just  brushed  free  of  every  tangle. 

"  Indeed,  you'll  do  no  such  thing !  Ring  in 
Julia,  and  blow  her  up.  It's  an  every-day  matter 
now.     I  wonder  you — " 

"  But  Johnny  has  been  so  wakeful  all  day ; 
and  it's  washing-day,  too,  you  know,  and  she  has 
to  help  Ann." 

"  Julia  1"  shouted  Mr.  Cooper  over  the  ban- 
isters, unheeding  the  inteiTuptive  apology  for  what 
was  by  no  means  a  casual  neglect. 

From  below  came  up  a  great  sound  of  kitchen 
merriment,  where  Julia  was  promoting  the  health 


"fetch"  and  carry.  ii 

of  Master  Johnny  by  letting  him  stifle  in  the 
smoke  from  the  mutton-chops  broiling  and  drip- 
ping over  the  fire,  and  rattling  two  nutmegs  in 
a  pint  measure  to  keep  him  quiet,  while  she  gos- 
siped with  the  cook. 

"  My  dear  Murray !  here,  ]!ilurray ;  there  was 
plenty  of  water  in  the  nursery,'  said  Mrs.  Cooper, 
in  a  tremor,  lest  Julia,  by  any  accidental  pause, 
should  hear,  and  so  receive  a  piece  of  her  hus- 
band's present  mind. 

"  Well,  if  you  will  wait  on  your  girls,  it's  none 
of  my  business ;  only,  I  say,  Martha,  don't  let  it 
happen  again ;  and  row  her  up  well  this  time. 
Here  she  comes.     Let's  hear  you  now." 

Mr.  Cooper  being  perfectly  aware  of  his  wife's 
deficiency  of  commander-in-chief  qualities,  sub- 
sided into  good-humor  at  having  her  thus  cor- 
nered. 

The  nurse,  a  stout,  careless-looking  girl, 
sauntered  lazily  into  the  room  with  the  child  in 
her  arms. 

Mr.  Cooper  gave  his  wife  a  quizzical  look 
from  behind  the  towel,  which  said  :  "  Go  on ;  have 
it  over  with,"  as  plain  as  print. 


6d  THE  OOOPEES. 

"  Julia,"  began  Mrs.  Murray,  with  an  unusual 
dash  of  resolution  in  her  tone. 

The  girl  turned  with  a  stare  of  impertinent 

wonder. 

"  Oh,  dear,  if  she  should  walk  off  and  leave 

me  !     JohnD  J  never  will  let  me  get  him  to  sleep  ; 

and  I  don't  know  any  thing  about  his  food," 

thought  Johnny's  unpractised  mother. 

"  The  pitcher  was  not  filled  to-night ; "  the 
tone  was  considerably  more  quavering — "don't 
let  it  happen  again."  Meekness  herself  could  not 
have  spoken  more  mildly  than  the  concluding 
sentence  was  uttered.  Mr.  Cooper  hurried  down 
stairs  to  prevent  an  explosion  of  laughter.  The 
girl  did  not  reply,  but  began  getting  out  the 
child's  night-clothes  with  a  sullen  air  of  offended 
dignity,  which  made  her  mistress  thoroughly  un- 
comfortable. 

^^Ido  wish  Murray  would  not  mind  things  as 
he  does,  I'm  sure  I'm  willing  to  wait  on  myself, 
or  him  either,  for  that  matter.  I  declare  I  never 
will  speak  to  Julia  again  !  I  wish  she  was  more 
amiable." 

"  "Well,  my  dear,  what  a  blast  it  was  !  "  greeted 


"fetch"  and  cabby.  51 

her  as  she  entered  the  dining-room.  ''  Reallj,  I 
wonder  the  poor  creature  bore  up  under  it.  You 
should  have  been  a  man,  and  a  sea-captain  at  that. 
"What  splendid  discipline  you  would  keep  !  " 

"  I  don't  see  any  use  in  lecturing  an  hour  for 
a  trifling  forgetfulness,"  retorted  Mrs.  Cooper, 
crossly.  It  was  a  sore  point  between  them  ;  and 
what  with  her  husband's  toilet  interrupted  for 
want  of  water  the  third  time  within  a  week,  the 
girl's  unpardonable  neglect  and  annoying  imper- 
tinence, she  was  on  the  verge  of  downright  ill- 
humor. 

"  You  are  only  making  yourself  more  trouble," 

"  I  don't  think  so  at  all.  I  should  have  trouble 
enough  if  she  left  me.  You  never  would  find 
anybody  else  so  devoted  to  Johnny." 

«  Fiddlestick ! " 

"  She  has  him  in  her  arms  from  morning  till 
nisrht.  Sometimes  it 's  four  o'clock  before  she 
gets  a  chance  to  finish  our  room." 

"  So  much  the  worse.  Will  you  ring  for  din- 
ner, Martha  ? — just  because  she  likes  to  shoulder 
him  musket  fashion,  and  walk  around,  rather  than 
do  her  work.     He's  altogether  too  large  to  be 


52  THE   COOPEES. 

nursed  as  he  is.  He  never  will  walk  at  this  rate. 
Russel  says  his  baby  can  go  all  around  the  room, 
holding  on  by  the  chairs ;  and  it's  a  month 
younger." 

"  And  a  gii-l.  Girls  are  always  more  forward 
than  boys." 

"  But  Johnny  does  not  even  try  to  creep." 

"  I  trust  he  never  will — ^I'uiniug  all  his  clothes 
on  the  floor  !  " 

"  How  will  he  ever  get  the  use  of  his  limbs,  if 
he  doesn't  ?  Do  be  reasonable,  Martha ;  you  know 
the  old  proverb — a  man  must  creep  before  he  can 
walk.  Come,  now,  don't  get  blue,  only  be  de- 
cided ;  be  a  little  more  firm,  that's  all  I  ask  of 
you ;  you  will  got  along  a  great  deal  better.  Dear 
knows,  I've  no  wish  to  deprive  you  of  such  a  daily 
comfort  and  blessing  as  the  devoted  Julia !  " 

Mrs.  Cooper  knew  in  her  heart  that  she  was 
nothing  of  the  kind  ;  on  the  contrary,  "  smoke  to 
the  eyes,  and  vinegai*  to  the  teeth "  would  have 
been  more  truly  descriptive.  But,  though  she 
chafed  at  daily  and  hourly  trials  of  temper,  she 
had  not  the  courage  to  rid  herself  of  the  cause. 

The  young  person  in  question  took  the  trouble 


"fetch"  and  oaery.  I^ 

off  of  her  hands  by  giving  most  unexpected  and 
inconvenient  "notice."  It  is  quite  remarkable 
with  what  nicety  domestics  always  hit  the  busiest 
and  most  preoccupied  moment  for  giving  "a 
warning,"  In  the  midst  of  house-cleaning,  pick- 
ling, and  preserving.  Miss  Julia  settled  upon  her 
wedding-day,  and  walked  off  with  Patrick  to  the 
priest,  where  she  had  the  pleasure  of  paying  her 
own  marriage  fee,  a  cheerful  omen  of  the  abun- 
dance and  comfort  she  might  expect  for  the  future. 
But  Patrick  was  out  of  employment,  and  had 
been  for  a  month  ;  and  another  noticeable  fact  in 
Milesian  customs  and  manners  is, — that  this  is  the 
time  they  usually  prefer  in  which  to  insist  on 
taking  their  betrothed  from  a  comfortable  home, 
and  good  wages,  to  pay  the  way,  as  long  as  it  lasts, 
with  her  savings ;  fortune-hunting  below  stairs, 
and  perhaps  not  more  reprehensible  than  on  the 
larger  scale  with  which  one  meets  it  in  society. 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  very  little  sympathy  from  her 
husbandy  when  she  met  him  at  the  door  with  her 
doleful  intelligence. 

"  Right  in  the  middle  of  the  day  ! — our  room 
all  in  disorder — ^not  even  the  bed  made ;   and 


54  THE   COOPERS. 

Johnny  just  waking  np  as  cross  as  possible — after 
the  many  times  I've  put  myself  out  on  her  ac- 
count !  Why,  I've  done  half  the  work  myself  to 
keep  peace,  ever  since  she  has  been  here  I " 

"  Exactly  what  you  might  expect  for  having 
done  so." 

"  But  what  am  I  to  do  now  ?  " 

"  Good  fish  in  the  sea  as  ever  were  brought  to 
Fulton  Market,  my  love." 

It  was  finally  arranged  that  Mr.  Cooper  should 
dine  down  town  so  as  to  give  the  cook  leisure  to 
see  after  Master  Johnny,  next  day:  while  Mrs. 
Cooper,  with  the  Herald  as  her  chart,  should  go 
on  a  voyage  of  discovery.  She  set  out,  feeling 
more  than  bereaved ;  she  returned  flushed  with 
success ;  for  once,  fortune  had  favored  her ;  and 
Julia's  successor  was  already  engaged  to  come  the 
following  morning. 

"  She's  just  as  neat  as  Julia  was  careless." 

"  How  do  you  know  ? "  inquu*ed  Mr.  Cooper, 
incredulous,  but  glad  to  have  the  matter  so  quickly 
disposed  of.  He  had  expected  at  least  a  week  of 
search  and  lamentation. 


"fetch"  and  caeey.  5ft 

"  How  ?  By  her  dress,  of  course.  She  was 
di'essed  as  well  as  I  am." 

"  Yery  unsuitably  for  her  position,  then,  I 
should  say." 

"  Well,  not  so  good  materials,  of  course ;  not 
so  expensive,  perhaps ;  but  the  effect  was  just  the 
same ;  and  she  had  velvets  in  her  hair,  really  quite 
stylish." 

"  Oh ! " 

"  That's  nothing,  I'm  sure ;  every  body  wears 
velvets  now." 

"  Then  I  should  take  mine  out,  if  I  were  you." 

"  Don't  be  provoking,  Murray !  I  wish  you 
could  have  seen  her ;  and  she's  a  girl  of  such  good 
education  and  manners.  She  was  boarding,  you 
know,  and  there  lay  her  testament  and  prayer- 
book  on  the  table.  Only  think  how  fortunate,  we 
are  to  have  a  communicant  in  our  own  church ! 
That  was  in  the  advertisement,  and  what  made 
me  notice  it  first.  Don't  you  think  we  are  very 
fortunate  to  find  a  girl  of  such  good  principles  2  " 

"  That  doesn't  always  follow.  How  about  her 
recommendations  2 " 


66  THE  COOPERS. 

"  Oh,  that's  the  best  of  all  I  She  has  always 
lived  with  her  mother,  and  sewed,  you  know  ? " 

"  I  didn't  know  it  before." 

"  Well,  she  has ;  and  has  never  lived  out  but 
in  one  place  ;  and  whom  do  you  think  she  lived 
with  ?    Mrs.  Miller." 

"  Charlie  Miller's  wife  ?  You  don't  tell  me 
BO  !  She  wouldn't  say  any  thing  but  the  truth  to 
help  along  any  girl  in  Christendom.  What  did 
she  say  % " 

"  I  believe  you  think  Mrs.  Miller  perfection. 
It's  very  strange  she  never  took  the  trouble  to  call 
on  your  wife.     Going  to  the  same  church,  too  ! " 

There  was  a  slight  shade  of  pique  in  this  re- 
mark, for  Mrs.  Miller  was  both  stylish  and  fash- 
ionable ;  and,  though  Mrs.  Murray  admired  her 
greatly  at  a  distance,  and  would  have  been  de- 
lighted to  exchange  visits,  a  bow  was  the  utmost 
civility  that  had  ever  passed  between  them.  Mr. 
Cooper  had  known  her  well  in  his  bachelor  days, 
for  she  belonged  to  the  circle  in  which  he  then  re- 
volved. 

"  But  what  did  she  say  of — ^what's  her  name, 
Lucy?" 


"fetch"  aitd  caeey.  57 

"  Yes,  Lucy  ;  it's  so  refined  after  the  Bridgets 
and  Anns  I  had  seen.  Oh,  she  had  no  written 
character,  as  they  call  it,  for  she  left  there  when 
very  ill !  Otherwise,  Mrs.  Miller  never  would 
have  parted  with  her,  she  says ;  and  she  never  ■ 
thought  to  get  her  to  write  one  afterwards." 

"  So  you  had  to  call  on  Mrs.  Miller  first,  after 
all!     Good!" 

"  Lideed,  I  did  not !  " 

"  You  have  not  engaged  her  without  inquiring 
her  character  ? " 

"  Certainly  I  have.  K  you  could  have  seen 
her,  so  modest  and  well-bred,  and  such  a  good 
seamstress,  you  would  have  done  so  too.  Why,  I 
felt  as  if  it  was  an  insult  to  her,  asking  for  a  refer- 
ence !  But  I  always  do  when  engaging  a  girl.  It 
is  as  much  as  to  say  I  doubt  their  word,  poor 
things ! " 

"  The  bank  had  no  such  scruples  when  your 
respected  husband  was  required  to  give  a  ten  thou- 
sand dollar  bond  before  he  could  get  the  tellership." 

"  But  that  was  a  different  thing.     You  were  a 

young  man  when  you  first  went  there,  and  was  to 

be  trusted  with  money." 
3* 


58  THE  COOPERS. 

"  I  suppose  Johnny  is  a  less  precious  deposit. 
I  tell  you  what,  Martha,  it  seems  to  me  that,  if  I 
was  a  woman,  which  I'm  thankful  I  am  not,  you 
know,  I'd  sooner  trust  a  person  with  my  cash  than 
my  boy.  You  can  do  as  you  please,  but  I  do  wish 
you  would  get  over  this  ridiculous  notion  of  hurt- 
ing people's  feelings.  A  nice  time  I  should  have 
with  our  porter's  boy  if  I  stopped  to  consult  his 
before  I  requested  him  to  get  a  hod  of  coal,  or  go 
an  errand  I " 

"  I  don't  believe  she'll  make  her  appearance," 
was  Mr.  Cooper's  parting  remark,  as  he  stood  on 
the  front  door-step,  and  signalled  the  omnibus. 
Unbelieving  to  the  last.  But  when  his  ring  was 
answered  at  night  by  a  modest,  "  genteel,"  active 
girl,  such  a  contrast  to  the  indolent  Julia,  he  could 
but  give  a  gracious  assent  to  his  wife's  inquiry  as 
to  how  he  liked  the  change. 

"How  does  she  wear?"  he  inquired,  when 
handing  out  her  wages  at  the  end  of  the  first 
month. 

"  Better  and  better.  I  never  have  had  so 
much  time  to  myself  since  Johnny  was  born. 
She  flies  through  the  work,  mornings,  and  has 


"fetch"  and  carry.  59 

him  dressed  and  off  for  his  walk  before  eleven 
o'clock.  Lucy  thinks  it's  so  much  better  for  chil- 
dren to  be  in  the  open  air.  I  never  could  get 
Julia  to  carry  him  more  than  a  square." 

"  The  devoted  Julia  ?    Is  it  possible  ? "     " 

"  You  need  not  commence  on  that  now.  She's 
gone,  poor  thing  I  and  she  really  was  very  good 
to  him.  He  never  will  be  as  fond  of  Lucy,  with 
all  her  coaxing." 

"  Perhaps  she  neglects  him  out  of  sight.  Where 
does  she  take  him  when  she  goes  out  ? " 

"  Dear  me,  Murray,  I  would  not  be  as  sus- 
picious as  you  are  for  the  world  !  Why,  she  just 
walks  with  him,  of  course ! " 

"  And  is  gone  all  the  morning  ?  You  needn't 
tell  me  she  carries  that  great,  heavy  boy  all  the 
morning." 

"  She  goes  to  Washington  Square,  I  suppose, 
and  sits  down  to  rest,  as  all  other  nurses  do.  I 
should  be  ashamed  to  question  a  girl  like  her. 
Why,  just  see  how  strict  she  is  about  going  to 
church,  now  she  has  an  opportunity  I  Only  think ! 
She  says  she  lived  with  Mrs.  Miller  ten  months, 
and  only  got  to  church  once.    If  1  was  Mrs.  Mil- 


im  THE  COOPERS.     :  ** 

ler,  I  should  stay  at  home  once  in  a  while,  and 
remember  that  my  girls  had  souls,  as  well  as  my- 
self." 

"  Perhaps  she  didn't  want  to  go." 

"She  couldn't  get  away;  they  had  so  much 
dinner  company.  Lucy  knows  how  /  feel  about 
Sunday  dinners.  For  my  part,  I  should  much 
prefer  to  have  a  cold  joint.  Lucy  says  there  is 
hardly  a  Sunday  of  their  lives  that  they  do  not 
have  two  or  three  gentlemen  to  dine.  Oh,  Mur- 
ray, I  forgot  to  tell  you :  she  says  the  Morrisons 
came  there  a  great  deal.  Mrs.  Morrison  is  quite 
intimate ;  and  she  has  heard  her  say  such  things 
about  other  people  —  their  acquaintances,  you 
know,  when  she  has  been  doing  up  Mrs.  Miller's 
room.  Girls  see  a  great  deal  behind  the  scenes 
in  families." 

Mr.  Cooper  did  not  respond,  but  sat  piling  the 
seven  gold  dollars  on  the  table  before  him,  and 
knocking  them  down  again,  with  an  expression 
about  his  mouth  his  wife  could  not  exactly  under- 
stand, when  she  looked  up  to  see  if  he  heard  her. 

"  Don't  you  think  so  ? "  she  resumed. 

"  So  it  seems,"  he  answered,  dryly. 


"fetch"  and  caeky.  61 

"  And  Lucy  says — only  think,  dear — that  Mrs. 
Miller  is  one  of  the  most  extravagant  persons  she 
ever  saw.  Such  scenes  when  the  bills  came  in ! 
I  always  thought  she  dressed  a  great  deal.  And 
there's  her  sister,  Miss  Yandervort — Mrs.  Miller 
gives  her  half  she  wears,  they  are  so  straitened, 
for  all  she  holds  her  head  so  high.  And  Mr.  Mil- 
ler, he's  out  four  evenings  out  of  the  week,  for  all 
his  wife — " 

Mrs.  Cooper  paused  abruptly,  checked  by  a 
very  significant  cough  from  her  listener ;  and  her 
face  grew  scarlet. 

"  Now,  that's  what  the  advertisements  call 
*  Interesting  to  Ladies,'  isn't  it  ?  You  seem  com- 
pletely booked  up,  Martha.  "What  a  very  intelli- 
gent and  observing  person  Lucy  must  be,  as  well 
as  high  principled  !  I  should  think  you  would  be 
afraid  to  have  her  about  your  house." 

"  How  so  ? "  Mrs.  Cooper  could  not  see  why 
they  need  fear. 

"  Why,  her  next  mistress  will  be  entertained 
with  our  peculiarities  and  weak  points,  that's  all. 
I  suppose  you  believe  this  stuff." 


62  THE  COOPERS.     "** 

"  I  don't  see  any  reason  to  doubt  it,  I'm  sure. 
Lucy  isn't  one  to  tell  a  falsehood." 

"  I'm  not  so  certain  of  that." 

"  You  have  no  reason  to  speak  so,"  said  his 
wife,  warmly ;  "  injm-ing  a  poor  girl's  character." 

" '  Tattle  and  Fib,'  as  the  children  say,  are 
very  near  relations."  And,  to  change  the  sub- 
ject, Mr.  Cooper  fished  in  his  overcoat  pocket  for 
the  Evening  Express. 

"  But,  Murray,  you  never  will  believe  any- 
body." 

"  To  balance  our  account,  my  love,  you  always 
believe  everybody.  Kow,  do  you  suppose  Mrs. 
Miller  would  keep  a  girl  ten  months  from  chm*ch, 
if  she  showed  the  least  disposition  to  attend  ? " 

"  I '  suppose'  only  what  I'm  told.^''  And  Mrs. 
Cooper  laid  a  tolerable  emphasis  on  the  last  word, 
indicative  of  rising  mercury  in  the  thermometer  of 
her  temper  and  disposition.  It  was  not  the  first 
time  she  had  been  taken  to  task  for  repeating  pri- 
vate histories  of  her  acquaintances,  gleaned  from 
feminine  sources.  Mr.  Cooper  hated  personal  gos- 
sip as  he  did  January  bills,  which  is  the  strongest 
comparison  one  could  make  in  his  case  ;  and, 


"fetch"  and  carry.  63 

though  his  wife  was  not  especially  inclined  that 
way,  she  sometimes  left  the  law  of  charity — 
"thinking  no  evil" — a  little  out  of  sight. 

"  Just  take  my  word  for  it,  Martha — I'm  very 
good-natured  to-night — cleared  the  year's  rent  this 
week,  by  an  outside  speculation,  and  I  don't  want 
to  be  upset — ^if  that  girl  tells  you  impleasant  things 
of  Mrs.  Miller,  she  will  entertain  the  next  person 
that  will  listen  " — ^Mr.  Cooper  made  an  expressive 
pause — "  with  quite  as  disagreeable  stories  of  usP 

"  "What  could  she  say  ? "  Mi-s.  Cooper  was 
quite  in  earnest  about  it.  "  I'm  sure,  dear,  there's 
nothing  goes  on  in  this  house  but  that  I  should  be 
willing  the  whole  world  should  see." 

"  That's  so,  through  an  honest  medium ;  but 
not  through  smoked  glass^  Martha! — that's  the 
thing;  and  just  this  story  has  made  me  suspicious 
of  Lucy.  I  haven't  half  the  confidence  in  her  I 
had  an  hour  ago ;  for  I  must  say  I  never  have 
seen  any  thing  in  her  to  find  fault  with." 

In  spite  of  a  resolution  not  to  mind  it,  Mi-s. 
Cooper  herself  felt  a  secret  uneasiness  from  that 
moment.  She  noticed  Johnny  was  far  more  fret- 
ful ;  but  that  was  his  teeth,  Lucy  said.     He  did 


64  THE  C00PEE8. 

not  take  to  her  as  he  had  done  to  Julia ;  but  then 
it  was  a  work  of  time  to  wean  a  child  from  its 
nurse.  Sometimes  she  would  hear  the  fretfulness 
suddenly  cease,  when  Lucy  was  alone  with  him 
in  her  own  room,  to  be  resumed,  in  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  or  so,  more  distracting  than  ever.  Johnny 
began  to  droop,  and  had  little  appetite  for  his 
bread  and  milk ;  but  his  sleepless  nights  did  away 
with  all  suspicions  of  an  opiate  privately  admin- 
istered, which  a  friend  kindly  suggested.  Trifling 
discrepancies  gradually  crept  into  Miss  Lucy's  ac- 
count of  their  daily  walks,  and  the  touching  his- 
tory of  her  own  orphanhood,  the  incidents  of 
which  found  a  sympathizing  listener  in  her  new 
mistress.  It  never  had  occurred  to  her  to  doubt 
a  word  of  it  heretofore ;  and  Lucy  had  been  re- 
lieved of  much  drudgery  that  Julia  dragged 
through  with  in  the  course  of  the  week,  because 
Mrs.  Cooper  could  not  make  up  her  mind  to  ask 
a  girl  who  "  really  looked  as  much  like  a  lady  as 
herself,"  and  "had  seen  better  days,"  to  do  it. 
She  waited  on  herself  more  than  ever,  and  was 
becoming  as  much  a  slave  to  Lucy's  suggestions 


"fetch"  and  oaery.  BS 

and  opinions  as  she  had  been  to  Julia's  suUenness, 
In  spite  of  her  determination  to  the  contrary. 

Mr.  Cooper,  having  no  such  fear  before  his 
eyes,  noted  various  symptoms  of  human  imperfec- 
tion in  their  "all-accomplished  maid;"  but,  though 
hie  wife  acknowledged  some  of  them,  and  felt  an 
uncomfortable  surveillance  over  herself  and  her 
visitors,  these  new  bonds  were  still  harder  to 
break  than  the  last. 

Mr.  Cooper,  passing  through  an  obscure  street, 
one  morning,  to  arrive  sooner  at  a  friend's  count- 
ing-house, met  him  a  square's  distance  from  it, 
and  stopped  to  discuss  the  business  arrangement 
on  which  he  was  bent. 

"  Fifty  cents  on  a  dollar  !  "  said  Mr.  Allen  ; 
"  well,  I'm  sorry  for  poor  Brown.  I'll  see.  Just 
look  at  that  girl,  Cooper !  How  little  fathers  and 
mothere  know  what  become  of  their  children  out 
of  sight !  See,  that's  a  gentleman's  child,  evi- 
dently. What  a  filthy  alley  he's  been  taken  to. 
I've  seen  her  before,  though ;  she  stays  by  the 
hour  when  she  comes  ;  and  of  course  the  mother 
thinks  the  boy  is  taking  the  air." 

"  Taking  small-pox,  more  likely,"  Mr.  Cooper 


66  THE  C00PEE8. 

returned,  carelessly.  But  what  was  his  friend's 
astonishment  to  see  him  spring  forward,  the  next 
moment,  and  snatch  the  child  away,  to  the  girl's 
astonishment  as  well  as  his  own.  It  was  Lucy 
who  stood  before  him  in  speechless  confusion, 
conscious  that,  only  the  day  before,  she  had  as- 
sured Mrs.  Cooper  that  she  never  saw  an  ac- 
quaintance from  one  week's  end  to  another,  and 
would  as  soon  give  him  poison  as  candy,  with 
whicli  his  little  thin  hand  was  filled  when  she  so 
suddenly  encountered  his  father. 

Mr.  Cooper  had  Mr.  Allen's  unconscious  testi- 
mony that  it  was  nothing  new.  He  paid  her 
wages  to  the  day,  and  discharged  her  on  the  spot, 
taking  Johnny  home  himself,  before  she  should 
come  for  her  trunk,  and  have  an  opportunity  to 
tell  her  story  to  his  wife. 

Contrary  to  his  expectations,  Mrs.  Cooper 
seemed  to  feel  it  a  relief;  and  she  did  indeed 
breathe  more  freely,  when  the  sobbing  Lucy  had 
kissed  Master  Johnny  good-by,  and  followed  her 
trunk  out  of  the  house. 

"  Lucy  has  got  a  place,  ma'am,"  said  Ann,  the 
cook,  a  few  days  after  a  new  girl  had  been  in- 


"fetch"  and  caeey.  67 

stalled  in  the  neat  little  nursery.  "  I  saw  her  at 
the  coraer,  last  evenin',  ma'am  ;  an'  the  lady  said 
she  wouldn't  ask  any  character  of  such  a  tidy- 
lookin'  one.  It's  a  lady  as  comes  here  some- 
times ;  and  she  lives  in  Twentieth  street,  Lucy 
says." 

"  Mrs.  Gregory  ! "  And  Mrs.  Cooper  instantly 
felt  a  secret  uneasiness  at  being  served  up  to  Mrs. 
Gregory  as  Mrs.  Miller  had  been  to  her.  "  But, 
dear  me,  there's  nothing  she  could  say  against 
us."  She  had  just  discovered  a  secret  hoard  of 
sugar  in  one  of  the  nursery-drawers,  with  which 
her  boy  had  evidently  been  coaxed  and  bribed, 
and  which  accounted  for  his  pallor  and  loss  of 
appetite.  So  she  was  forced  to  doubt  her  late 
handmaid  in  more  ways  than  one. 

She  met  Mrs.  Gregory  that  same  afternoon  at 
Stewart's,  and  imagined  that  she  was  purposely 
avoided.  "Weeks  went  by,  and  her  last  call  in 
Twentieth  street  was  still  unretumed. 

"  You  have  not  seen  Jane  lately,  have  you  ? " 
said  a  mutual  acquaintance  and  Mrs.  Cooper's 
most  intimate  friend,  Lizzie  Grant,  who,  worsted- 
work  in  hand,  was  passing  a  sociable  evening. 


^  THE  COOFESS. 

"  !N"o,"  returned  Mrs.  Cooper,  coldly,  hoping  in 
her  heart  the  subject  might  be  dropped. 

"  If  you  won't  be  vexed,  I'll  tell  you  the  rea- 
son ;  now  promise." 

"  I'll  promise  for  her,"  said  her  husband.  Mrs. 
Cooper  had  devoutly  trusted  he  was  safe  in  the 
depths  of  "  John  Halifax,  Gentleman,"  when  the 
conversation  began  ;  but  suspecting  what  was  to 
follow,  he  laid  down  the  volume  with  wonderful 
alacrity. 

"  Why,  that  pretty  girl  you  used  to  have  here 
— ^what  was  her  name  ? " 

"  Lucy,"  Mrs.  Cooper  was  forced  to  say. 

"  "Well,  she's  been  telling  Jane  the  most  unac- 
countable stories — she  went  to  her,  you  know, 
from  here — about  you  and  Mr.  Cooper.  Yes,  in- 
deed, you  had  your  share,  Mr.  Cooper.  She  said 
you  kept  back  her  wages,  and  discharged  her  on 
a  moment's  notice." 

"  Half  and  half,"  said  Mr.  Cooper,  laughing. 
"  The  last  is  all  correct.  I  have  Allen  for  witness 
that  I  paid  her  wages,  though." 

"  But  what  did  she  say  about  me  ?" 

"  Yes,   let's  have    it    all.   Miss   Lizzie.      I'll 


"fetch"  akd  cabby.  69 

share  the  compliments,  Martha;  I'm  not  at  all 
greedy." 

"  Oh,  that  you  talked  over  people  with  your 
servants,  and  said  hard  things  of  them  I  " 

"  How 's  that,  Martha  ? " 

"  I  did  say  Mrs.  Miller  ought  to  have  let  her 
go  to  church,"  said  the  conscience-stricken  Mrs. 
Cooper. 

"  Mrs.  Miller  ?  Why,  you  know  how  she  left 
there,  don't  you  ? " 

"  Yes,  she  told  me ;  she  was  sick." 

"  Very.  So  sick  that  Mrs.  Miller  refused  to 
give  her  a  character  for  helping  herself  acciden- 
tally to  Georgie's  silver  pap-spoon  and  a  French 
worked  collar  that  were  found  in  her  trunk.  Her 
brother,  Harry  Yandervort,  happened  to  tell  me 
at  the  time.  He  and  Albert  dine  there  on 
Sundays  always." 

"  Horrible  woman  to  have  her  brothers  dine 
with  her  on  Sunday  ! "  said  Mr.  Cooper,  glancing 
at  his  wife. 

"  They  found  out  she  never  went  to  church 
while  she  lived  there,  though  she  always  made  a 
point  of  starting.    A  perfect  little  piece  of  decep- 


70  THE  COOPEKS.     ;  " 

tion  ;  and  I  told  Jane  so  when  she  said  Lucy  told 
her  that  you  neglected  Johnny.  So  I  was  deter- 
mined you  should  know  about  it ;  for  really  it's 
dreadful  to  have  one's  character  at  the  mercy  of 
such  a  person." 

Mr.  Cooper,  with  remarkable  self-denial,  for- 
bore to  say  :  "  I  told  you  so  !  "  when  their  visitor 
had  departed.  But  his  wife  never  saw  Mrs.  Miller 
or  Mrs.  Gregory  again  without  having  an  olden 
precept  called  to  mind — "  With  what  judgment 
ye  judge,  ye  shall  be  judged ;  and,  with  what 
measure  ye  mete,  it  shall  be  measured  to  you 
again." 


CHAPTER  lY. 

LAYING    THE    KEEL. 

"Every  man  is  the  architect  of  hla  own  fortune." 
"  When  we  get  rich, 
Say  the  bells  at  Shoreditch." 

Theke  are  some  dark  days  when  it  seems  im- 
possible for  the  best  disciplined  mind  to  be  serene 
and  cheerful.  Not  when  heavy  misfortunes  are  to 
be  borne,  for  their  own  measure  of  strength  is 
often  dealt  out  by  the  same  loving  hand  that  never 
"  afflicts  or  grieves  willingly ; "  but  days  when 
petty  trials  mffle  the  temper,  and  cloud  the  spirits ; 
when  we  are  not  satisfied  to  let  the  morrow  care 
for  itself,  but  heap  up  the  burdens  of  the  present 
with  gloomy  anticipations  for  the  future.  If  we 
could  only  live  up  to  the  divine  philosophy  that 
forbids  this  useless  task-work,  as  well  as  assent  to 
it  with  a  mental  acknowledgment  of  its  wisdom. 


^  THE  COOPEBS. 

our  strength  would  not  so  often  fail -us,  or  doubts 
of  God's  good  providence  cloud  our  faith. 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  gone  wearily  through  such  a 
day.  Her  child  had  been  fretfully  clinging  to  her 
since  morning.  Her  thimble  and  scissors  were 
still  lying  on  a  half-finished  apron.  She  had  not 
been  able  to  set  more  than  a  dozen  stitches  at 
once,  and  now  sat  rocking  her  boy,  though  he  had 
fallen  asleep,  too  much  discouraged  to  lay  him 
down,  and  go  about  any  thing.  Even  the  fire  was 
dull  and  choked,  obstinately  refusing  all  improve- 
ment from  blower  or  fresh  coal.  Tlie  cheerful, 
even  temper  of  her  girlhood  had  changed  to  a 
sad  variableness  of  late,  as  cares  and  anxieties  ac- 
cumulated day  by  day. 

^  It  was  a  very  unusual  thing  for  Mr.  Cooper  to 
find  his  wife  not  dressed  for  dinner ;  but  the  dark 
afternoon  had  faded  so  imperceptibly  into  twilight, 
that  she  was  still  indulging  in  her  reverie  when 
she  heard  his  step  in  the  hall. 

"  Dear  me,  Martha  I  what's  the  matter  ?  John- 
ny sick  ? "  For,  as  young  fathers  will,  he  had  a 
habit  of  prognosticating  croup  from  the  least 
hoarseness,  and  scarlet  fever  from  the  faintest  flush. 


LAYINa  THE  XEEL.  73 

"  ^"0,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  in  a  tone  as  dreary  as 
her  thoughts.  "  He 's  well  enough,  only  so  fretful 
that  I've  scarcely  had  him  out  of  my  arms  a 
minute.  There,  Johnny,  mother's  arms  ache. 
See,  he's  bright  enough,  now  you  have  come." 

Mrs.  Cooper  did  not  intend  to  speak  complain- 
ingly ;  hut,  as  every  mother  knows,  children  have 
a  habit  of  bestowing  all  their  fretfulness  and  little 
ailings  on  their  much-enduring  maternal  relative, 
and  brightening  into  good  humor  the  instant  their 
father  appears.  Johnny's  nap  had  quieted  and 
rested  him,  so,  as  he  raised  his  curly  little  head 
and  stared  about,  he  was  quite  ready  to  smile,  in 
answer  to  his  father's  "  Halloo,  old  boy  I  come  to 
papa." 

"  He  '5  well  enough  ;  nothing  the  matter  with 
him.  You  must  not  let  yourself  get  so  nervous, 
Martha,"  said  Mr.  Cooper,  returning  from  the  nur- 
sery, whither  he  had  given  the  young  gentleman 
a  "  pig-a-back"  ride.  The  child  had  gone  off  in  a 
provokingly  good  humor  after  a  hearty  romp.  It 
did  not  add  to  Mrs.  Cooper's  good  nature,  how- 
ever, after  all  the  trouble  she  had  had  with  him 
through  the  day.    She  helped  the  soup  in  silence. 


9^  THE  GOOPEBS. 

and  persisted  in  thinking  she  had  no  appetite, 
when  her  husband  noticed  that  she  took  none 
herself. 

"  Come,  make  an  effort,  Mrs.  Chick ;  or  was  it 
Mrs.  Dombey  requested  by  Mrs.  Chick  to  exert 
herself?    Headache?  eh?" 

"  !N"o."  And  Mrs.  Cooper  nearly  choked  her- 
self with  a  dry  morsel  of  bread. 

Her  husband  made  no  further  attempt  at  con- 
solation until  the  table  was  cleared,  when  he  com- 
menced setting  things  right  by  giving  the  fire  a 
few  vigorous  pokes,  piling  on  fresh  coal,  and 
nursing  it  with  great  perseverance,  till  a  ruddy 
glow  fiUed  the  whole  room,  and  began  to  thaw 
Mrs.  Cooper's  spirits,  and  at  the  same  time  her 
conversational  powers. 

"  I  guess  it  was  the  fire,  wasn't  it,  Martha  ? 
*  Fire  wouldn't  bum  the  stick,'  eh  ? "  For  "  Mother 
Goose  "  was  a  favorite  classic  with  this  gentleman, 
and,  in  fact,  took  the  place  the  Spirit  of  the  Tiinea 
had  once  occupied  in  his  desultory  reading. 

'•  Not  only  fire,  but  the  whole  story,"  said  Mrs. 
Cooper,  brightening  up  in  spite  of  herself.     "  It 


LATINO   THE   KEEL.  75 

has  been  one  of  those  days  when  *  pig  wouldn't 
go,'  from  beginning  to  end." 

"  Tell  lis  the  whole  story.  I  know  you  want 
to.     Out  with  it." 

"There's  not  much  to  tell;  but  Johnny  has 
fretted  so  all  day ;  and  Ellen  broke  the  slop-jar  in 
our  room  ;  and  I  find  this  carpet  is  going  so  fast, 
the  crumb-cloth  never  will  cover  it  up  another 
season." 

"  "Well  we  must  have  a  new  one." 

"  That 's  easy  to  say ;  t)ut  you  know  Mr. 
Brown  never  would  get  one  ;  and  there 's  no  use 
of  our  doing  it  when  we  may  not  live  here  another 
year,  and  have  a  room  the  carpet  would  not  suit 
at  all.  That's  the  worst  of  living  in  a  furnished 
house.  Things  will  give  out,  and  you  are  all  the 
time  having  to  buy." 

"That's  a  fact,  Mrs.  Cooper;  but  you  would 
keep  house,  recollect.  We  paid  enough  last  year, 
with  the  rent,  for  the  furniture,  and  buying  things, 
to  furnish  a  house  of  our  own." 

"  But  you  know  I  proved  to  you  that,  after  all, 
it  did  not  cost  any  more  than  to  board,  and  have 
to  dress,  and  put  out  washing,  and  all  that." 


76  THE  C00PEE8. 

"  Yes  ;  but  if  we  owned  the  furniture,  that  two 
hundred  could  be  laid  by ;  and  we  shouldn't  mind 
getting  things  so  much.  It  seems  all  out  of  pocket 
now ;  for,  if  we  should  go  to  boarding  again,  there 
be  such  a  lot  of  traps — ^no  kind  of  use." 

"  I  never  want  to  board  again,  and  trust  we 
never  shall,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  fervently.  "  I 
had  enough  of  living  for  other  people,  year  before 
last ;  and  Johnny  never  could  bear  being  shut  up 
in  one  room,  after  having  had  the  run  of  the 
house." 

"  Don't  you  wish  we  had  a  nice  little  place  of 
our  own  ? " 

"  We  couldn't  even  furnish  one  out  of  what  we 
have  now,  let  alone  buying  a  house."  Mrs.  Coop- 
er's tone  was  extremely  disconsolate,  for  one  of  the 
day's  burdens  had  been  the  prospect  of  living  on 
in  this  way  year  after  year,  spending  her  time  and 
strength  in  trying  to  make  both  ends  meet. 

"  If  I  was  only  in  business  for  myself,  now,  as 
I  might  have  been  if  I  hadn't  thrown  money  away 
so  when  I  was  getting  a  big  salary.  But  it  can't 
be  helped  now.  Young  men  will  do  so.  I  spent 
five  hundred  a  year, — ^yes,  seven  hundred — more 


LAYING  THE  KEEL.  77 

than  I  needed  to."  And  Mr.  Cooper  tried  to  con- 
sole himself  for  this  painful  retrospect  by  break- 
ing off  the  conversation,  and  humming, 

"  If  I  was  only  young  again, 
I'd  lead  a  diff-er-ent  life." 

"  But  that  doesn't  help  the  matter  now,  does 
it  ?  A  man  can't  do  any  thing  without  capital ; 
and  none  of  my  '  rich  relations '  seem  inclined  to 
help  a  fellow.  The  Governor  can't.  He's  got 
his  hands  full  in  driving  his  own  team." 

"  Your  Uncle  Murray — though  you  are  his 
namesake — did  you  ever  ask  him?  He  always 
seems  very  fond  of  you." 

"  Oh,  it 's  you  ho  comes  to  see.  He  was  prais- 
ing you  np  sky-high  the  other  day ;  even  asked 
me — ^I  didn't  tell  you,  did  I  ? — ^how  such  a  sensi- 
ble woman  came  to  throw  herself  away  on^  me. 
Don't  get  vain,  now.  I  read  myself  out  of  the  old 
gentleman's  books,  years  ago,  by  using  up  my 
spending-money  too  fast.  He 's  as  careful  as  a 
Scotchman ;  besides,  he  hasn't  got  much :  and 
what  he  has  got  is  left  to  all  sorts  of  charitable  so- 
cieties. The  Governor  witnessed  the  will,  and 
read  me  a  lecture  afterwards." 


m 


THE  C00PEE8. 


"  You  know  that  sweet  little  house  we  used  to 
admire  at  Tarrytown."  Mrs.  Cooper  broke  off  a 
sigh,  at  her  husband's  blasted  prospects,  so  far  as 
Uncle  Murray's  help  was  concerned,  with  a  sudden 
recollection  of  the  only  call  she  had  received  that 
day.  "  Well,  Mrs.  Elder  was  in,  and  says  the  fam- 
ily have  moved  away,  and  it  is  going  to  be  sold." 

"  That  would  be  just  the  place  for  us,  wouldn't 
it  now  ?  Come,  let  us  amuse  ourselves  by '  suppos- 
ing,' as  the  children  say.  I  used  to  have  famous 
times  with  Jim,  poor  fellow  I  when  we  were  boys. 
We'd  suppose  the  Governor  would  launch  out  a 
ten  dollar  gold-piece  at  Christmas — which  he  never 
did — and  we'd  spend  it  in  advance." 

"  I  dare  say.    That's  your  way,  Murray." 

''  Well,  what  of  it  ?  We  might  as  well  amuse 
ourselves  that  way  as  any  other.  I'd  have  a  new 
fence  around  the  lawn  and  garden  for  one  thing. 
That  old  fence  was  always  an  eyesore  to  me :  and 
then  we'd  set  out  choice  fruit-trees,  you  know,  and 
a  few  grape-vines  and  raspberries.  Raspbemes 
and  cream — only  think  of  that,  madam !  for,  of 
course,  we  should  keep  a  cow.  Raspberries,  and 
currants,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing,  and  any  quan- 


LATIlirG   THE   KEEL.  79 

titj  of  rosebuslies  for  you.  There's  a  basement 
kitchen,  isn't  there  ?" 

"  Quite  a  transition  from  roses  !" 

"  Oh,  one  can't  live  out  of  doors  all  the  time  I" 

"  I  began  to  think  you  intended  to." 

"  Don't  go  to  sharp-shooting.  "We'd  have  that 
overhauled.  Basements  are  always  damp  in  the 
country ;  and  that's  a  side  hill." 

"  Dear  me !  it's  no  use.  We  never  shall  have 
that,  or  any  other  house." 

"You're  way  down,  down  in  the  depths  to- 
night ;  I  see  that,  my  dear." 

I  suppose  I  am.  But,  dear  Murray — "  And 
here  the  tired  spirits  gave  way  into  something  like 
a  sob.  Mrs.  Cooper  felt  inclined  to  lay  her  head 
down  on  her  husband's  shoulder,  and  have  "  a  real 
good  cry." 

"  Come,  now,  none  of  that  nonsense,"  he  said, 
in  a  tone  as  cheerful  as  hers  was  disconsolate. 
"  I've  set  out  to  amuse  myself  going  to  housekeep- 
ing on  paper,  and  you  must  help  me.  Where  shall 
we  begin  to  fm-nish,  parlor  or  kitchen  ?" 

"  Oh,  kitchen !"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  brightening 
up  again.     "  Aunt  Agnes  used  to  say :  Do  have 


so  THE   COOPEES. 

yonr  kitchen  well  fumislied  when  yon  go  to  honse- 
keeping,  Martha,  and  your  chambers,  whether  you 
have  any  thing  in  the  parlore  or  not.  If  you  don't, 
you  will  always  he  in  some  trouble,  and  put  to 
double  the  expense  in  the  end." 

"  Sensible  woman,  that  aunt  of  yours.  Now, 
we  had  to  get  a  cook-stove  when  we  moved  here ; 
80  eighteen  dollars  are  saved.  A  cook-stove  and 
sundry  traps  belonging." 

"  Yes ;  two  gridirons,  for  instance." 

"  Something  hke  that  celebrated  cat  with  two 
tails  I  used  to  hear  so  much  about  when  I  was  a 
boy.  We  had  a  nurse  that  would  send  it  up  to  us 
whenever  we  asked  for  any  thing.  '  Now.  boys, 
walk  out  of  the  nursery  this  minute,'  I  can  hear  her 
now.  *You  don't  want  it  any  more  than  a  cat 
wants  two  tails.' " 

Mr.  Cooper's  imitation  of  Nurse  Dicky,  with 
whom  his  wife  was  by  this  time  tolerably  well  ac- 
quainted, was  admirable,  and  she  gave  him  a  sheet 
of  foolscap  to  make  his  calculations  upon.  They 
would  have  amused  any  experienced  person ;  for 
neither  of  them  had  any  great  degree  of  knowl- 
edge on  the  subject,  and  their  estimates  were  by  no 


LAYING  THE   KEEL.  81 

means  proportioned  to  the  well-filled  rooms  fur- 
nished 60  completely  and  tastefully  in  imagination. 
Mr.  Cooper,  for  the  time  being,  was  as  well  satis- 
fied as  if  he  had  been  master  of  this  cottage  in 
Cloud-land ;  and  it  gave  his  wife  food  for  many  a 
reverie  over  her  needle,  sometimes  cheerful,  some- 
times sad  ;  for-she  knew  too  well  how  faint  a  pros- 
pect there  was  of  its  ever  being  realized.  As  her 
husband  frankly  said,  and  as  many  another  young 
married  man  has  found  to  his  sorrow,  if  the  prodi- 
galities of  the  five  years  of  his  bachelorhood  could 
be  recalled,  the  home  they  longed  for  might  have 
been  their  own.  Another  of  her  Aunt  Agnes's  max- 
ims had  been  that  no  man  ever  got  on  in  life  who  did 
not  make  a  tolerable  beginning,  before  he  was  thir- 
ty, towards  having  a  roof  over  his  head  in  his  old 
age.  Sometimes  Mrs.  Cooper  thought  on  this  wise  : 
"  I  do  not  believe  it  is  for  money's  sake  I  wish 
Murray  to  succeed,  though  I  know  there  is  some 
selfishness  in  wanting  to  see  him  beyond  close  pe- 
cuniary care.  I  don't  care  for  dress,  either,  or  to 
make  a  show.  I've  seen  enough  of  that.  But  I 
can't  bear  to  think  of  having  to  bring  up  childi'en 
in  a  boarding-house,  and  just  getting  enough  to- 
4* 


ra  THE    COOPERS. 

gether  every  month  to  pay  the  board  and  Stewart's 
bill,  as  I  know  the  Newtons  did ;  and  he  must 
be  all  of  forty.  And  then  there  are  schools, 
getting  more  expensive  every  day,  and  a  hundred 
and  one  expenses  we  have  not  commenced  to  think" 
of,  to  be  met  by  this  same  income.  Besides,  there 
is  the  pleasure  of  giving  to  others  who  have  less, 
and  seeing  your  husband  have  his  friends  about 
him.  Murray  is  one  who  never  will  accept  hospi- 
tality he  cannot  return.  But,  dear  me !  it's  no  use ; 
and  we  must  do  the  best  we  can." 

They  were  doing  so  now,  to  the  best  of  their 
knowledge,  though  habit  and  custom  were  often 
made  necessity.  And  there  were  many  domestic 
economies  of  which  Mrs.  Cooper  was  still  pro- 
foundly ignorant,  although  Political  Economy  had 
been  a  prominent  "  branch"  at  the  celebrated  fe- 
male seminary  she  had  attended.  She  often 
pinched  when  she  might  have  spared,  but  for  this 
lack  of  practical  experience,  and  wasted  sums  that 
would  have  grieved  her  deeply  had  she  been  con- 
scious of  it.  But  in  many  things  she  could  go 
without,  better  than  she  saved. 

"  I  can  do  my  own  sewing ;  but  I  can't  go  into 


LAYING  THE  KEEL.  83 

the  kitchen  and  cook,"  she  said  to  herself  one  day. 
"  Ann  must  manage.  But  it  does  seem  to  me  our 
marketing  comes  to  a  great  deal.  And  Mm'ray, 
with  all  he  says,  can't  bear  a  poor  table." 

Mrs.  Cooper  forgot  one  important  fact,  that  a 
plain  table  is  not  always  a  poor  one.  However, 
that  was  a  revelation  for  the  future  to  disclose. 

Mr.  Murray,  the  uncle  for  whom  Mr.  Cooper 
had  been  named,  was  a  bachelor  of  sixty,  upright, 
keen-eyed,  and  bade  fair  for  a  vigorous  old  age, 
inasmuch  as  he  had  always  taken  the  same  care  of 
his  health  that  he  did  of  his  money.  Great,  there- 
fore, was  the  surprise  of  the  whole  family  when 
his  landlady  telegraphed  to  Mr.  Cooper,  Senior, 
one  cold  February  morning,  that  she  considered 
his  brother-in-law  seriously  iU,  and  had  taken  the 
responsibility  of  sending  for  a  physician.  Mr. 
Cooper,  arriving  from  Baltimore  next  day,  found 
him  up,  and  seated  in  an  arm-chair,  insisting  on 
toasting  his  own  bread,  as  he  did  every  morning, 
although  his  hand  shook  so  that  he  could  scarcely 
hold  the  fork.  Never  was  there  a  more  deter- 
mined patient,  until  his  friend  and  physician.  Dr. 
Parry,  told  him  that  a  summons  had  been  served 


84  THE    C00PEK8. 

from  wMch  there  was  no  escape.  Then  it  was 
strange  to  see  how  this  strong  human  will  yielded 
to  what  he  clearly  recognized  as  divine.  He  lay 
down  quietly  as  a  child  at  night,  and  died  without 
a  struggle  or  a  groan.  His  namesake  returned 
from  the  unostentatious  funeral  more  sobered  than 
he  had  ever  been  in  his  life.  For  the  first  time, 
he  began  to  comprehend  that  this  is  not  "  the  be 
all,  and  the  end  all."  The  solemn  words  of  the 
burial-service  had  gone  home  to  one  heart  among 
those  whom  custom  and  relationship  had  assembled 
around  the  open  grave. 

"  Man  that  is  born  of  a  woman  hath  but  a  short 
time  to  live,  and  is  full  of  misery. 

"  He  cometh  up,  and  is  cut  down  like  a  flower. 

"  He  fleeth  as  it  were  a  shadow. 

"  In  the  midst  of  life,  we  are  in  death." 

His  wife  was  watching  for  his  return,  and 
opened  the  door  silently,  for  this  revered  man  had 
been  a  friend  to  her  since  her  marriage ;  and .  she 
felt  his  loss  as  if  he  had  been  of  her  own  kith  and 
kin. 

"Poor  Uncle  Murray !"  said  Mr.  Cooper,  lay- 
ing down  his  hat,  which,  for  the  first  time  since  he 


LAYING  THE  KEEL.  85 

could  remember,  bore  the  conventional  token  of 
loss  and  mourning.  "  I  did  not  suppose  I  cared 
BO  much  about  him.  But  he  always  was  good  to 
me  after  a  fashion  of  his  own.  I  believe  all  his 
lectures  were  meant  for  kindness.  He  acted  up 
to  all  he  preached,  at  any  rate  ;  and  that  is  more 
than  most  of  us  do,  Matty."  And  his  voice  shook 
a  little  as  he  stooped  to  kiss  her.  "  "Well,  Matty, 
you  have  brought  me  good  fortune ;  did  you  know 
it  ?  So  never  lament  that  I  did  not  marry  Miss 
Alexander,  as  the  girls  always  wanted  me  to." 

"  I  ?  How,  dear  Murray  ?"  And  she  looked 
up  eagerly  in  his  face. 

"  There  was  a  codicil,  added  only  two  months 
ago ;  father,  none  of  them  but  Doctor  Parry,  and 
the  lawyer  knew  of  it.  He  has  left  us — you  and 
me,  Matty,  for  your  name  stands  first — ^five  thou- 
sand dollars.  He  says  I  have  begun  to  learn 
how  to  make  a  right  use  of  money ;  and  he  is  per- 
suaded you  will  not  see  it  squandered." 

Mrs.  Cooper  may  be  pardoned  if  a  flush  of  plea- 
sure crossed  the  sombre  current  of  her  grief  for 
this  good  friend.     There  was  the  capital  Murray 


86  THE  COOPERS. 

had  sighed  for ;  home,  competence,  the  realization 
of  many  a  day-dream  was  before  her. 

"  Oh,  Murray,  how  kind  it  was  !" 

"  Do  you  know  I  never  thought  I  could  care  so 
little  at  having  money  left  me  ?  I  wanted  to  get 
away  from  them  all,  and  home  to  you.  Father 
meant  it  all  right  when  he  said  it  ought  to  have 
been  twice  that ;  but  it  seemed  very  hard  and  un 
grateful  to  me.  They  may  thank  you  for  it  al- 
though, as  I  told  them.     I  said  there  never  was — " 

"  Yes,  I  dare  say  you  gave  me  out  as  perfection. 
But  I  'm  glad  he  cared  about  me." 

"  And  you  shall  have  that  little  house,  now  it's 
just  the  sum ;  and  I  see  the  place  is  advertised  yet. 
That  you  shall ;  for,  if  anybody  deserves  it,  you 
do.  Please  God,  we  may  live  there  together 
many  a  year."  For,  athwart  this  bright  prospect, 
and  the  pleasure  of  possession,  fell  the  shadow  of 
the  presence  he  had  that  day  so  fully  realized ; 
and  he  thought,  for  the  first  time,  of  the  possibili- 
ty of  losing  this  true  and  constant  friend,  and 
going  on  drearily  without  her. 

The  executor,  tardy  as  executors  proverbially 
are,  had  finished  his  simple  duties.     Uncle  Murray 


LAYING  THE  KEEL.  8t 

had  kept  Hs  house  "  well  ordered ;"  and  a  few  le- 
gal formalities  were  all  that  devolved  upon  him. 

Mr.  Cooper  received  the  draft  which  he  had 
intended,  from  the  first,  to  invest  in  the  Tarr jtown 
cottage,  and  settle  it  upon  his  wife ;  but,  strange 
to  saj,  she  opposed  the  plan  he  had  thought  filled 
her  mind  as  much  as  it  did  his  own. 

"Why,  I've  seen  Homer  Morgan,  twice, 
Matty,  and  I  've  got  a  plan  of  the  house  and  ground 
in  my  pocket.  I  never  supposed  you  would  have 
any  objection." 

"  But  what  is  going  to  furnish  and  keep  the 
house,  if  you  pay  it  all  out  in  purchasing  ?" 

"  Oh,  part  can  remain  on  bond  and  mortgage — 
half,  if  I  like ;  Morgan  said  so.  Why,  he  considers 
it  a  splendid  thing ;  says  property  is  going  up  tre- 
mendously all  along  the  railroad." 

"  But  there  would  be  interest  to  pay :  I  hate 
mortgages.  Uncle's  house  was  mortgaged ;  and 
Aunt  Agnes  used  to  say,  that  what,  with  interest, 
and  taxes,  and  repairs,  it  was  cheaper  to  hire  a 
house." 

"  Oh,  we  could  pay  that  off  in  a  year  or  two  !" 
For  Mr.  Cooper,  with  a  draft  for  five  thousand 


88  THE  COOPERS. 

clear  in  his  pocket,  felt  far  richer  than  the  inher- 
itor of  John  Jacob  Astor,  whose  soul  is  vexed  by 
title-deeds,  insurance  policies,-  and  losses  and  cross- 
es innumerable. 

"  How  ?  on  fifteen  hundred  a  year,  every  cent 
of  which  is  made  way  with  now  ?" 

"  Oh,  bother,  Matty !  don't  pin  a  man  down 
so.  Can't  you  let  me  '  splurge'  for  once  ?  What 
do  you  want  a  fellow  to  do  ?  Put  it  in  the  Green- 
wich Savings  Bank,  and  draw  three  per  cent?" 

"I  thought  you  wanted  to  go  in  business." 

"Poh!  what  would  five  thousand  do  for  a 
capital  in  New  York  City  ?" 

"  Didn't  you  tell  me  that  the  Goddards  began 
with  five  and  sixpence,  and  that  Slocum  &  Bro- 
thers were  peddlers  ?" 

"  Oh,  that  was  in  old  times,  when  the  Yan 
Coulters  lived  in  a  back  parlor  behind  a  shop, 
where  you  couldn't  turn  round,  I  've  heard  father 
tell !  and  the  Bretons  had  a  cabbage-garden,  and 
the  Pollards  sold  snuff  and  tobacco.  All  worthy 
people,  you  know,  only  I '  m  afraid  tlie  family  por- 
traits wouldn't  command  much  from  their  descend- 
ants.   People  worked  in  those  days,  and  so  did 


LAYING  THE  KEEL.  »W 

their  wives  and  children,  you  know.  We  can't 
manage  in  that  style,  and  there's  no  use  talking." 

"  But  I  heard  you  say,  Murray,  that  the  sto- 
rage business  did  not  require  much  capital,  only 
business  friends;  and  you  made  so  many  in  the 
bank." 

"  By — !  beg  pardon,  Matty,  I  never  thought 
of  it.  And  there  was  Steve  Henderson  talking 
about  it  only  the  other  day.  He 's  got  loads  of 
people ;  but  he  can't  have  any  money.  He  takes 
care  of  his  mother,  and  all  that.  I've  a  great 
mind  to  talk  it  over  with  him." 

"  Then  you  could  take  out  enough  to  furnish  a 
house,  and  hire  one  for  the  present.  There  are 
plenty  of  houses  in  the  country,  advertised  every 
spring." 

"But  there's  the  risk,  you  see,"  said  Mr. 
Cooper,  sobering  down  suddenly ;  for,  in  the  very 
prospect  of  business  for  himself,  he  had  passed,  in 
the  last  five  minutes,  from  storage  to  a  commission 
business,  and  thence  to  an  extensive  shipping- 
house,  of  which  he  was  the  head,  but  quite  at 
hia  ease,  driving  in  at  his  own  hour  every  morn- 
ing, his  own  horses,  with  his  own  man  in  a  hat- 


90  THE  C00PEE8. 

band,  seated  at  his  side.  It  was  quite  a  descent 
to  what  seemed  a  paltry  sum-total  in  comparison. 

"  There's  risk  in  every  business,  isn't  there  ? 
And  I  know  you  said  there  was  less  in  this  than 
most  others.  Don't  you  know  the  night  we  were 
talking  about  the  Masons,  and  how  they  had  got  on  ? 

"  Still,"  m-ged  Mr.  Cooper,  "  there  would  be 
a  long  while  to  wait  for  profits,  perhaps  profits 
which  might  never  come,  and  the  house  would  be 
something  tangible ;  and  it  would  be  so  nice  to 
talk  about '  my  place'  and  '  my  grounds,'  as  Char- 
lie Miller,  and  Yan  Alstyne,  and  the  other  men  of 
his  set  did,  and  such  a  pleasure  in  laying  it  out 
and  seeing  it  improve ;  but,  as  Martha  said,  im- 
provements cost  money ;  and  interest  did  eat  up 
principal  at  a  marvellous  rate,  as  he  had  had  occa- 
sion to  see  in  the  transactions  of  certain  others  of 
his  family.  Then,  too,  it  would  be  almost  as  de- 
lightful to  say,  *  my  counting-room,'  and  '  step 
round  and  see  me  at  No.  29 ;'  or, '  Kelp  us  along, 
old  fellow.  Send  your  friends,  and  weHl  take 
care  of  theip." 

Martha  generally  did  have  sensible  ideas ;  al- 
though, to  be  sure,  women  know  nothing  about 
business. 


LAYING  THE  KEEL.  91 

Mr.  Cooper  "prevented  the  night-watches" 
with  these  reflections,  and  asked  Johnny,  in  the 
morning,  "  how  he  should  like  to  have  papa  get  a 
store  of  his  own,  and  have  him  (the  juvenile)  for 
his  little  clerk,  with  a  pen  behind  his  ear ;"  when 
that  young  gentleman  crept  over  the  crib-rails, 
and  his  sleeping  mamma,  for  the  matutinal  frolic, 
to  which  he  was  accustomed.  Johnny's  response 
was  in  the  afiirmative ;  indeed,  he  approved  the 
suggestion  by  most  emphatic  signs  of  satisfaction ; 
and  his  father  bore  the  whisker-pulling,  and  suffo- 
cating squeezes  lavished  upon  him,  with  exempla- 
ry fortitude,  having  lapsed  into  the  shipping  rev- 
erie once  more. 

Business  versus  real  estate  carried  the  day. 
Mr.  Henderson's  friends,  and  Mr.  Henderson's 
judgment,  which  was  much  more  to  the  purpose, 
advised  the  measure.  And,  one  very  sloppy 
March  morning,  Mrs.  Cooper  waded,  by  invita- 
tion, through  two  inches  of  mud,  across  the  nar- 
row, blockaded  street,  to  gaze  on  a  huge  sign,  and 
read,  in  all  the  freshness  of  blue  and  gilt  letter- 
ing, 

COOPER  &  HENDERSON. 


92  THE  COOPEES. 

Her  husband,  in  a  liigh  state  of  excitement, 
proceeded  to  show  her  over  the  huge,  empty  lofts, 
guiltless  of  all  occupancy  save  dust  and  cobwebs, 
but  far  more  delightful  to  his  sight  than  even  the 
rustic  trelHses  and  grape  arbors  of  the  Tarrytown 
cottage.  There  was  a  charm  about  the  very  stone 
inkstand  on  the  desk  in  the  counting-room,  the 
tall  stools,  and  three  Windsor  chairs,  which  com- 
pleted its  luxurious  garnishing,  if  we  except  a  plan 
of  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  duly  framed  and 
glazed,  over  which  freights  were  supposed  to  be 
pouring  in. 

Mrs.  Cooper  went  home  with  a  circular,  signed 
by  the  new  firm,  in  her  pocket,  and  presented 
two  of  their  business  cards  to  friends  that  she  met 
in  the  omnibus.  Altogether,  it  was  a  memorable 
day  in  her  calendar;  and  for  once  she  equalled 
her  husband  in  building  castles,  over  the  lofty 
portals  of  which  was  blazoned, 

COOPER    &    HENDERSON, 
STORAGE  AND  COMMISSION  MERCHANTS. 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE   LAUNCH. 


"Half  the  sting  of  prfverty  la  gone  when  one  keeps  house  for  one's  own 
conifort,  and  not  for  the  comments  of  their  neighbors." 

Besides,  we  are  yoang,  have  but  few  wants,  and  can  easily  reduce  our 
wants  to  our  havings.— John  Hat.ttat. 

"  I'  VE  got  some  bad  news  for  you,"  said  Mr. 
Cooper,  recognizing  his  wife  in  tlie  midst  of  a 
group  of  ladies  on  Stewart's  steps,  and  following 
her  to  the  linen  counter. 

Mrs.  Cooper  looked  up,  with  a  sudden  start, 
from  the  bird's-eye  she  was  comparing  with  the 
scrap  she  had  brought  to  match. 

"  Not  business,  surely."  For  she  was  already 
the  recipient  of  the  fluctuations  affecting  the  new 
firm.  She  could  tell  you  the  last  quotations  in 
flour  and  grain,  knew  something  of  pork  before  it 
found  its  way  to  Fulton  Market,  and  that,  when 
wool  advanced,  it  was  neither  "  Berlin  "  nor  yet 
"  Saxony,"  which  the  papers  alluded  to. 


9i  THE  000PEE8. 

"  No,  not  exactly.  I  have  just  heard  that  your 
Tarrytown  house  is  sold.  I  met  Newbold  on  my 
way  up." 

Mrs.  Cooper  gulped  down  a  sound — ^half  sob, 
half  sigh.  She  had  given  up  all  hopes  of  the 
house  voluntarily ;  and  yet,  so  long  as  it  did  not 
pass  into  other  hands,  it  was  pleasant  to  dwell 
there  in  imagination.  It  stood,  with  its  little 
pleasure-grounds,  in  full  view  of  the  lodgings 
where  the  first  summer  of  their  married  life  had 
been  passed,  and  was  associated  with  so  many 
golden  memories  that  it  was  hard  to  think  of 
others,  to  whom  it  was  only  a  convenient  habi- 
tation, coming  into  entire  possession. 

"  Do  you  know  who  has  it  ? "  she  said,  with  a 
little  quiver  of  the  lip,  which  her  husband  very 
well  understood.  Mr.  Cooper  considered  his  wife 
"  fanciful ; "  but,  though  he  could  not  always 
enter  into  these  fancies,  he  did  not  ridicule  or  cry 
out  against  them.  To  him,  one  comfortable,  well- 
built  house  was  much  the  same  as  another ;  but 
he  knew  she  would  feel  the  sale  of  this  particular 
domicil,  notwithstanding  she  had  advised  him 
against  purchasing  in  the  present  state  of  their 


THE  LAUNCH.  W$ 

affairs ;  so  ho  had  thought  best  to  come  out  with 
it  at  once. 

"  The  Presbyterians  have  bought  it  for  a  par- 
sonage, Newbold  says  ;  and,  as  he  was  on  the  com- 
mittee, I  advised  him  to  have  that  fence  down  at 
once." 

"  This  piece,  I  think  you  said."  The  hurried, 
yet  poKte  shopman  had  other  customers  yet  to  at- 
tend to,  and  thought  thus  to  recall  the  lady  to  the 
business  in  hand.  Mrs.  Cooper  concluded  that 
none  she  had  seen  was  fine  enough.  The  linen 
was  for  her  boy's  aprons ;  and  she  held  to  the  faith 
that  the  materials  put  into  an  infant's  wardrobe 
should  be  of  the  very  best.  She  forgot  that  Johnny 
was  no  longer  in  arms,  and  might  reasonably  be 
expected  to  give  his  clothes  some  wear  and  tear 
the  year  to  come. 

"  Any  thing  else  to-day — ^towels,  table  linen  ? " 
said  the  shopman,  again,  as,  the  purchase  being 
completed,  the  ubiquitous  "  Cash  "  was  summoned 
with  a  sharp  tap  of  the  cedar  pencil  upon  the 
counter. 

If  there  was  one  thing  above  another  that 
tempted  Mrs.  Cooper  at  Stewart's,  it  was  the 


96  THE  C00PEE8. 

honsekeeping  department.  She  cared  very  little 
for  dress,  and  could  look  at  the  gorgeous  brocades, 
suspended  in  the  rotunda,  as  quietly  as  she  did  at 
the  painted  window-shades  of  her  opposite  neigh- 
bor. It  cost  no  effort  to  pass  by  the  lace  and  em- 
broideries of  the  intervening  room,  or  to  turn  her 
back  upon  the  enticing  cloaks  and  mantles  be- 
yond ;  but  those  fleecy  blankets,  those  serviceable 
table-covers,  the  rolls  of  towelling,  and,  above  all, 
the  snowy  damask  piled  endwise,  as  children  do 
their  cob-houses,  were  a  sore  temptation.  It  had 
arisen,  in  part,  from  womanly  instinct,  but,  in  a 
great  measure,  from  the  straits  she  had  been  put  to 
in  her  housekeeping.  "  Bed  linen  "  was  professedly 
included  in  the  catalogue  of  the  house  they  rented ; 
and  it  was  not  considered  "  worth  while  "  to  pur- 
chase a  store  of  costly  articles  to  be  packed  away 
and  moth-eaten  if  they  should  return  to  boarding. 

"  I  might  get  some  tea  napkins,  you  know, 
Murray,  just  by  way  of  commencement." 

"  Just  as  you  like.  I  've  heard  of  the  man  who 
saved  hoi-se-shoes  in  hopes  that  he'd  pick  up  a 
horse  some  day." 


THE  LAUNCH.  97 

"  But  we  really  are  going  to  housekeeping  on 
our  own  account,  you  know,  dear." 

"  I  don't  believe  you'll  like  the  country  if  you 
try  it." 

"  Well,  a  dollar  and  a  half  won't  make  much 
difference,  any  way.  Yes,  this  snow-drop  pattern 
— a  dozen." 

Mrs.  Cooper  felt  as  if  she  was  several  steps 
nearer  her  purpose,  as  she  slipped  her  hand  under 
her  husband's  arm,  while  he  tucked  the  little  par- 
cel under  the  other.  A  walk  up  town  with  him 
was  a  rare  and  real  pleasure  ;  and  this  afternoon 
there  was  a  faint  breath  of  the  coming  spring  in 
the  ah*,  a  softness  suggestive  of  straw  bonnets  and 
China  silks  to  city  people,  and  of  budding  foliage 
to  country  dwellers. 

"  You  know  it's  high  time  we  decided,  MuiTay. 
It's  the  third  of  April,  and  nothing  done  towards 
finding  a  house,  let  alone  the  furnishing." 

"  "What 's  going  to  decide  us  ? "  asked  Mr. 
Cooper,  catching  sight,  at  the  moment,  of  a  toy- 
shop, and  remembering  an  indefinite  promise  to 
Johnny  of  a  horse  and  cart. 

"  Something  must.     Oh,  what  a  lovely  little 


98i  THE  COOPEES. 

work-table !  and  see  those  oak  chairs.  I  should 
like  to  have  oak  in  the  dining-room." 

"  Too  common.  Oak  and  green  are  inevitable 
now  in  a  dining-room  as  much  so  as  Turkey  red 
in  a  railroad  depot." 

"  Suppose  we  go  in,  and  just  look  around  a 
little." 

"  Oh,  get  your  house  first !  "  And  Mr.  Cooper 
drew  his  wife  past  the  tempting  upholstery  set 
out  upon  the  door-step  of  a  fashionable  estab- 
lishment. 

"  But  won't  you  begin  to  look  for  a  house, 
Murray  ?    I  see  plenty  advertised." 

"  So  do  I.  But  all  beyond  our  mark,  however. 
I  Ve  no  idea  what  we  do  want ;  have  you  ? " 

"  A  house  and  garden,  I  thought." 

"  And  a  stable." 

«  What  for  ? " 

"  A  horse,  to  be  sure.  How 's  a  man  going  to 
get  to  the  depot  mornings  ? " 

"  Oh,  if  we  live  on  the  river,  you  can  easily 
walk  to  the  boat,  as  you  did  at  Tarry  town." 

"  But  suppose  we  don't  live  on  the  river." 

"  Oh,  we  must !  " 


THE   LAUNCH.  99 

"  Must !  hum  !  " 

"  Why,  so  I  can  get  to  town  by  a  boat.  The 
cars  are  so  terribly  dusty,  you  know,  Murray ; 
and  I  wouldn't  give  a  fig  for  the  country  without 
water." 

"  There 's  the  Sound." 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know  any  thing  about  that ;  it 's 
all  flat,  and  chills  and  fever,  and  I  hate  the  Sound." 

"  In  other  words,  you  Ve  set  your  heart  upon 
the  river.  By  the  way,  you  are  walking  too  far. 
Sha'n't  I  hail  an  omnibus  ? " 

"  Oh,  no  I  I  rode  down ;  and,  besides,  I  can 
talk  better.     I  'm  not  tired,  really,  Murray." 

"  But  you  '  must '  live  on  the  Hudson  River ; 
that 's  one  point  settled.  The  direction  we  are  to 
live  in — ^how  would  you  like  Jersey  ? " 

"  More  chills.    ISTo,  I  don't  like  Jersey." 

"  I  tell  you  what  you  do  like,  Martha — ^your 
own  way." 

"  I  dare  say ;  most  of  us  do,"  returned  Mre. 
Cooper,  a  little  pettishly.  She  thought  her  hus- 
band was  very  indifferent  when  the  matter  was  so 
important  to  them,  and,  accustomed  as  she  was  to 
his  teazing,  never  suspected  that  he  had  made  it 


100  THE   COOPEKS. 

the  day's  business  to  collect  advertisements  of 
houses  to  let,  and  had  his  coat-pockets  stuffed  with 
papers  containing  them. 

She  found  the  table  spread,  however,  when  she 
came  down  from  the  nursery  that  evening,  and 
Mr.  Cooper  already  armed  with  the  scissors  from 
her  work-box  to  commence  his  clipping. 

"  They  're  all  so  '  desirable,'  you  see,  Matty ; 
there 's  the  difficulty.  You  know  we  can't  rent 
them  all.  Here 's  five  with  '  unsurpassed  advan- 
tages ; '  here 's  another  in  the  neighborhood  of 
good  schools.  That 's  a  strong  point,  Johnny 
being  eighteen  months  old.  Here 's  another ;  ice- 
house, stables,  grapery,  and  greenhouse — quite  as 
indispensable  in  the  present  state  of  our  finances. 
Rent,  eight  hundred." 

"  We  might  as  well  pass  over  that,"  said  Mrs. 
Cooper,  joining  the  search.  "Here's  a  cottage, 
five  minutes'  walk  from  the  depot ;  that 's  more  to 
the  purpose." 

"  Whereabouts  ? " 

"On  the  New  Haven  Railroad.  Oh,  that 
won't  do  !     How 's  this  ?  house  to  let  with  three 


THE  LAUNCH.  101 

acres,  garden,  ont-buildings,  shrubbery,  shade- 
trees  ;  and  only  three  hundred  a  year." 

"  That  looks  like  it — on  the  beloved  Hudson." 

"  Yes,  but  rather  high  up — at  Cold  Spring." 

"  Kather.  I  should  be  half  the  day  on  the 
road.  Let  me  see ;  I  know  somebody  at  Cold 
Spring." 

"  Why,  of  course  you  do — the  Jacksons.  Only 
think  what  nice  neighbors  !  And  neighbors  are 
BO  much  in  the  country.  Is  it  really  too  far  up  ? 
Mr.  Jackson  does  business  in  town." 

"  Yes,  so  he  does ;  but  they  stay  down  in  the 
winter." 

"  So  could  we  for  that  matter." 

"  I  thoiight  you  hated  boarding." 

"  So  I  do ;  but  for  three  months  only,  that 
would  be  different ;  and  then  we  should  have  a 
house  where  we  could  leave  every  thing  but  what 
we  really  needed.  That  would  make  a  great  dif- 
ference ;  don't  you  see  ? " 

"  There 's  ten  houses  to  rent  on  the  Sound  to 
one  on  the  North  River,"  observed  her  husband, 
instead  of  being  convinced. 

"  That  shows  nobody  wants  to  live  there." 


102  THE   COOPERS. 

"  Or  that  BO  many  people  prefer  it  that  it  is 
worth  while  to  build  houses  for  them." 

"  But  you  '11  look  at  the  Cold  Spring  house, 
won't  you  ?  Shade-trees  and  shrubbery,"  she  re- 
peated, enticingly. 

"  How  could  I  tell  whether  you  liked  it  or 
not  ?    Better  go  with  me  if  I  do." 

The  prospect  of  such  a  jaunt  was  delightful ; 
but,  alas,  it  was  not  a  solitary  trip  !  The  close  of 
the  first  week's  house-hunting  found  Mrs.  C^per 
quite  disheartened.  The  Cold  Spring  place  was 
discovered  to  be  two  miles  from  the  landing,  over 
a  bare,  dusty  road,  where  the  sun  would  be  blis- 
tering at  the  hour  of  Mr.  Cooper's  arrival  from 
town ;  besides,  it  was  an  old  house,  and  so  com- 
pletely given  up  to  shade-trees  and  shrubbery  that 
one  shivered  with  damp  in  the  low,  old-fashioned 
parlor.  The  next  on  the  list,  set  forth  in  the  ad- 
vertisement as  "  perfectly  new,"  certainly  was  as 
bare  and  modem  as  cheap  lumber  and  white  and 
green  paint  could  make  it ;  quarter  of  an  acre  of 
sand,  fenced  in,  was  dignified  into  a  garden  ;  and, 
to  crown  all,  it  was  one  of  a  row  of  similar  hab- 
itations on  a  newly  laid  out  avenue  in  Yonkers. 


THE   LAimCH.  103 

The  idea  of  "  a  row  "  set  flight  to  all  rural  fancies 
at  once  ;  and  number  three  came  under  consider- 
ation. Perched  on. a  high  bleak  hill,  overlooking 
the  river,  it  would  have  been  a  very  comfortable 
summer  house  ;  but,  as  Mrs.  Cooper  waded  round 
from  the  front  door  to  the  rear,  through  drifts  of 
muddy  snow  gradually  disappearing  under  a  hot 
April  sun,  she  was  obliged  to  acknowledge  that, 
though  the  mew  was  all  the  heart  could  desire 
("  in  liie  midst  of  picturesque  scenery,"  the  adver- 
tisement said),  it  must  be  subject  to  Siberian  colds 
in  winter  ;  and  the  soil  did  seem  rather  too  heavy 
for  a  garden  to  do  well. 

I^umber  five  was  a  charming  old-fashioned 
stone  house,  rambling,  but  not  devoid  of  comfort 
and  even  elegance.  The  garden  was  verdant  with 
high  box  borders  ;  and  groups  of  fir  and  spruce 
brightened  the  lawn.  There  were  rows  upon 
rows  of  good  old-fashioned  currant  and  goose- 
berry bushes,  plenty  of  fruit  trees,  some  recently 
grafted,  good  out-buildings,  and  a  low  rent,  cer- 
tainly the  most  hopeful  place  yet.  Mrs.  Cooper 
ui-ged  her  husband  to  secure  it  forthwith,  and  in 
imagination  was  already  elbow  deep  in  currant- 


104  THE   C00PEE8. 

jelly  and  damson-jam  ;  while  Mr.  Cooper  began  to 
consider  garden  seeds  and  a  dovecote  for  Johnny. 
Other  people  had,  however,  perceived  the  same 
advantages,  for  the  stone  house  had  been  rented, 
just  half  an  honr  before  his  application,  at  49 
Cedar  street. 

"  Rather  expensive  business,  this,"  said  Mr. 
Cooper,  as  he  footed  up  a  memorandum  on  the 
back  of  a  Hudson  River  "  time-table  ; "  "  nearly 
eleven  dollars,  including  lunches.  We  shall  have 
to  make  np  our  minds  pretty  soon,  or  there  will 
be  nothing  left  to  furnish  the  honse  with  when  we 
get  it." 

"I'm  tired  of  looking."  And  Mrs.  Cooper 
laid  down  the  paper  she  now  searched  habitually 
for  "  country  houses  to  let  or  to  lease."  "  There 
isn't  a  new  advertisement  to-day.  I  know  every 
one  of  these  places." 

"  I  'm  afraid  you  '11  have  to  give  up  the  North 
Eiver." 

"  For  that  matter,  I  don't  care  where  it  is,  so 
it 's  a  decent  house.     I  'm  sick  of  this  uncertainty." 

"  Really  ?  quite  a  concession.  But  I  '11  be 
amiable,  for  I  see  you  are  tired  and  womed.    I'll 


THE  LAUNCH.  105 

tell  you  what  I  think  we  have  made  out  of  our 
eleven  dollars,  some  idea  of  what  we  really  do 
want." 

"  How  so  ? " 

"  Why,  we  don't  want  a  high  rent,  or  so  much 
ground  that  it  will  take  all  we  can  raise  to  keep 
it  up  ;  we  don't  want  a  house  so  old  that  the  roof 
leaks,  or  so  new  that  there  is  not  a  leaf  or  blade 
of  grass  to  bless  ourselves  with.  We  do  want  a 
healthy  situation,  cheerful  and  warm  living  rooms, 
a  short  distance  from  the  depot,  as  we  have  con- 
cluded to  go  on  the  '  no  horse '  principle,  a  toler- 
able plot  of  ground  for  a  garden,  and  at  least  two 
trees  that  have  been  long  enough  out  of  the  nur- 
sery— ^Prince's,  you  know — to  grow  alone." 

"  Murray  " — Mrs.  Cooper's  face  expressed  sud- 
den determination — "let's  give  up  the  whole 
thing,  and  take  country  board  for  the  summer." 

"  Any  thing  for  a  quiet  life  ;  it's  all  one  to  me. 

Sha'n't  we  try  once  more  ?  Now  listen  to  this  dear 

little  pet  of  an  advertisement  I've  been  saving  up 

all  day.     You  didn't  find  it  in  the  paper,  you  see, 

because  I  cut  it  out." 

"  To  rent,  from  the  first  of  May,  a  small  coun- 
5* 


106  THE  000PEE8. 

try-house,    nearly    new,    garden    attaclied,   well 
shaded,  healthy  location." 

"  Where  is  it  ? " 
*  "  On  your  beloved  Hudson,  at  Irvington." 

"  Oh,  do  find  out  about  it,  Murray !  " 

"  Then  we  won't  advertise  for  board  on  Mon- 
day." 

Mrs.  Cooper  smiled  at  her  own  infirmity  of 
purpose.  "  But,  dear  Murray,  this  waiting  is  so 
tiresome  when  I  have  so  much  to  see  to ;  not  even 
a  pillow-case  or  sheet  made." 

They  had  drawn  the  prize  at  last ;  and  late 
enough  it  was,  considering  that  they  had  given  up 
the  house  they  were  in,  and  the  first  of  May  was 
so  close  at  hand.  Only  a  fortnight  for  furnishing ; 
and,  in  the  midst  of  all,  the  cook  had  given  warn- 
ing, as  "the  country  did  not  suit  her" — cook 
having  a  lover  in  the  shape  of  a  tall  policeman, 
who  looked  quite  as  fascinating  to  Ann,  in  liis 
star  and  uniform,  as  the  Emperor  of  Eussia  would 
have  done  in  his. 

"  Advertise  for  a  cook,  instead  of  country 
board,"  suggested  Mr.  Hendereon,  who  was  now 
a  constant   visitor,   and  frequently  admitted    to 


THE  LAUNCH.  107 

family  councils.  "  They  miglit  as  well  come  to 
you  as  to  have  you  walking  after  them.  You  will 
have  to  take  steps  enough  in  furnishing." 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  looked  forward  to  that  part 
of  the  business  as  very  delightful.  Every  woman 
likes  to  spend  money ;  and,  as  the  thousand  re- 
served for  furnishing  was  safely  lodged  in  bank, 
she  thought  nothing  would  be  easier  than  to  select 
pretty  furniture,  and  have  Murray  give  checks  for 
the  amount.  A  rough  plan  of  the  house  was 
drawn  for  Mr.  Henderson's  benefit.  It  was  a  low, 
irregular  building,  somewhat  fanciful,  but  with 
more  conveniences  than  might  be  expected  from 
a  cottage  ornee. 

"  Here's  the  front ;  see ;  and  this  hall  comes 
between  the  parlor  and  the  wing  built  on  for  a 
dining-room ;  back  of  that  a  store-room  and  an 
excellent  kitchen.  Here  are  the  stairs ;  see," 
said  Mr.  Cooper  again,  making  a  quantity  of  pen- 
cil-strokes, which  required  a  vivid  imagination  to 
fill  up.  "  Only  one  parlor ;  but  then  there's  an 
off-shoot,  on  this  side,  susceptible  of  improvement 
into  a  smoking-room  /  say — library,  Martha  says. 


108  THE  CXX)PEES. 

There's  a  piazza  the  whole  width,  and  some  climb- 
ers already  planted." 

"  Oh  yes,  about  the  garden  ! "  said  Mr.  Hen- 
derson, who  was  country  bom,  and  knew  a  spade 
from  a  pitchfork.  Mr.  Cooper  certainly  did  not 
know  much  more  ;  but  he  had  invested  already — 
they  bad  rented  the  house  two  days  before — in 
poultry  and  gardening  handbooks,  subscribing  for 
the  Horticulturist  and  Country  Gentleman  by 
way  of  finishing  this  part  of  his  education  at 
leisure.  He  had  grand  "  raising-your-own-butter- 
and  eggs  "  theories,  never  considering  that  fowls 
eat  as  well  as  laid  eggs  ;  and  was  eloquent  on  the 
economy  of  fresh  vegetables  ;  tliat  planting,  weed- 
ing and  hoeing  came  before  gathering  in  his  har- 
vest of  peas  and  pumpkins,  was  a  trifling  consid- 
eration. 

"  You  bave  never  lived  in  the  country,"  said 
Mr.  Henderson,  as  Mrs.  Cooper  listened  with 
great  satisfaction  to  these  remarks  from  her  once 
prodigal  husband,  now  suddenly  converted  into 
this  most  careful  of  householders. 

"  Never ;  but  I  long  f6r  it.  I  am  sure  I  shall 
be  happy.     No  visits  to  take  up  my  time,  no  gos- 


THE  LAUNCH.  109 

Bii>,  no  hot  bricks  and  mortar  to  make  the  air  like 
a  furnace.  I  expect  Johnny  to  play  on  the  grass 
all  day." 

"  Put  Murray's  travelling-blanket  under  him, 
then,  if  you  don't  want  him  lamed  for  life  with 
rheumatic  fever,"  returned  Mr.  Henderson,  laugh- 
ing. "The  country  is  delightful,  Mrs.  Cooper, 
particularly  when  the  cistern  gives  out  in  June, 
and  the  well  in  July;  when  drought  burns  up 
your  garden  one  year,  and  the  wet  weather  spoils 
it  the  next.  You'll  sigh  for  Croton  and  Fulton 
before  the  year  is  out.  Ask  my  mother  ;  she  can 
tell  you  all  about  it.  Then  there's  fresh  meat — 
that's  another  blessing ;  a  solitary  butcher's  cart 
twice  a  week,  which  all  your  neighbors  for  three 
miles  have  had  the  choice  of." 

Mrs.  Cooper  began  to  feel  uncomfortable  in 
spite  of  herself. 

"  And  chills — to  be  polite — *  fever  an'  agur,' 
as  they  say,  where  I  was  raised.  "Wait  tiU  you 
get  a  good  hard  '  shake.' " 

"  Oh,  there  are  no  chills  on  the  North  Eiver ! " 
said  Mrs.  Cooper,  eagerly. 

"  Don't  you  believe  it.     Lay  in  the  quinine, 


110  THE  COOPEES. 

Murray,  when  you  get  your  stores,  and  don't  for- 
get Brandreth's  pills,  with  the  pepper.  There's 
ague  anywhere  within  twenty  miles  of  New  York. 
Not  a  bit  more  on  the  Sound  than  the  Hudson." 

"  Poh  !  don't  talk  nonsense,  Henderson  !  '* 
Mr.  Cooper  was  annoyed  as  he  saw  his  wife's 
spirits  sink  under  this  prospect.  "  The  house  is 
taken,  and  we  must  make  the  best  of  it.  Don't 
borrow  trouble,  Matty ;  it's  more  expensive  than 
borrowing  money.  See,  this  is  your  room  over 
the  hall ;  only  I  sha'n't  ask  you  out  if  you  don't 
behave  yourself  better.  Our  chamber  is  quite 
large ;  and  then  there  are  servants'  rooms  very 
comfortable.  That  puts  me  in  mind — here's 
Berian's  housekeeping  list  you  asked  me  to  bring 
up,  Martha.  Great  note,  that;  isn't  it,  Steve? 
All  you  have  to  do  is  to  order  a  thirty,  fifty,  or 
seventy  dollar  set,  and  there's  your  kitchen  all 
furnished." 

"  That 's  High  Dutch  to  me,  though  I  listened 
very  attentively.  Shovel  and  tongs  are  about  all 
I  recognize,"  said  Mr.  HAderson,  as  his  host  read 
one  of  these  labor-saving  lists  aloud.  "  Most 
people  have  all  those  things  to  cook  a  beef-steak 


THE  LAUNCH.  11|L 

and  boil  a  disli  of  potatoes.  "What's  a  patent 
coffee-roaster,  I  wonder.  My  mother  used  to 
have  hers  done  in  a  great  iron-baking-pan  on  top 
of  the  stove." 

"  Oh,  we  must  have  good  coffee.  And  I  'm 
determined  to  have  the  best  of  every  thing  in  my 
kitchen,  as  Murray  says  it  will  save  so  much  time 
having  this  list.  There 's  the  kitchen  completely 
furnished  at  once." 

"  I  did  not  hear  any  thing  about  chairs  or  tables 
in  it,"  said  Mr.  Henderson.  "  I  suppose  the  mod- 
ern race  of  domestics  neither  eat  nor  rest." 

"  Ours  do  a  great  deal  in  both  lines.  Sure 
enough,  tables  and  chairs,  Matty ;  put  that  down." 

"  And  dishes,  I  suppose,  since  they  do  eat,  and 
knives  and  forks,"  added  Mr.  Henderson,  who  was 
particularly  practical,  and  knew  very  well  that 
Mr.  Cooper  was  not. 

The  purchases  were  noj;  as  easy  as  Mrs.  Cooper 
imagined  ;  prices  ranged  up  and  up ;  trifles  added 
to  bills  so  immensely.  Berian's  alone  being  nearly 
a  tenth  of  their  whole  *fund  before  it  was  com- 
pleted. Stewart's  for  house  linen — though,  by 
what  rule  blankets  and  Marseilles  quilts  are  in- 


li2  THE  COOPERS. 

eluded  in  "  house  linen,"  we  never  could  discover 
— was  even  more ;  what  with  chamber  window- 
curtains,  table-covers,  and  dnigget,  Mr.  Cooper 
began  to  think  "  ready  money  "  was  by  no  means 
as  lasting  as  he  had  imagined.  China,  too — ^Mrs. 
Cooper  chose  plain  white  ware  as  the  cheapest, 
being  more  readily  matched  ;  but  she  selected  the 
most  graceful,  and  of  course  the  most  expensive 
patterns  ;  and,  when  the  clerk,  who  had  made  the 
bill  as  large  as  possible  out  of  duty  to  his  employer, 
suggested  plated  ware  for  coffee,  tea,  etc.,  there 
were  a  few  more  costly  items  entirely  forgotten  in 
their  estimate,  but  not  the  less  necessary. 

"  Dear  me,  what  will  Murray  say  !  "  thought 
Mrs.  Cooper,  as  she  reached  the  door  for  the  sec- 
ond time.  The  clerk  had  laid  his  hand  upon  the 
lock  with  a  bow.  "  I  presume  you  have  selected 
your  glass  already,  as  you  did  not  mention  it." 

«  Glass  ? " 

"  Goblets,  carafes,  wines,  and  so  on,"  suggested 
the  ready  salesman. 

"  Goblets,  to  be  sure ;  wines  we  have.  Let  me 
see  some." 

"  And  lemonade  glasses,  finger-bowls,  a  fruit 


THE  LAUNCH.  113 

bowl  for  dessert.  The  order  is  for  the  country,  I 
think  you  said.  For  strawberries,  we  sell  this 
style,  a  high  stem,  you  see,  five  dollars.  Many 
people  prefer  glass  pitchers  for  cream;  there  is 
less  danger  of  turning,  I  believe.  Which  set  ? 
Those  are  four  dollars.  Oh,  and  egg-cups — new 
laid  eggs  in  the  country,  ma'am,  delightful." 

"  Shall  I  ever  get  away  ? "  Mrs.  Cooper  said  to 
herself,  in  despair.  "Another  hundred  here  at 
the  very  least.  I  wish  I  dared  ask  the  amount 
already."  For  Mrs.  Cooper's  lack  of  moral  courage 
made  her  hesitate  at  this  simple  proceeding,  which 
her  husband  would  undoubtedly  have  done  as  a 
matter  of  course. 

Once  more  they  returned  to  the  lower  floor. 

"  Any  thing  in  the  way  of  lamps  or  candel- 
abras  ?     Some  beautiful  bronzes  just  open." 

Mrs.  Cooper  longed  to  put  her  hands  over  her 
ears,  and  fly  from  any  more  suggestions.  They 
had  been  bo  accustomed  to  gas  that  lamps  had  not 
been  for  a  moment  considered. 

She  managed  to  say,  "  Not  to-day"  in  a  toler- 
ably indifferent  tone,  and  walked  rapidly  up 
Broadway,  reminded  by  every  furniture-store  she 


114  THE  COOPEES. 

passed  that  they  had  not  yet  commenced  their 
most  expensive  purchases. 

It  was  the  day  she  had  advertised  to  receive 
her  levee  of  cooks ;  and  this  she  entirely  forgot 
until  she  found  herself  face  to  face  with  two  dam- 
sels seated  in  remarkably  upright  positions  on  tlie 
extreme  edge  of  the  hall  chau*s.  They  were  re- 
garding each  other  with  no  very  amiable  glances, 
and  presented  as  complete  a  contrast  as  could  be 
found. 

Mrs.  Cooper  looked  from  one  to  the  other  in 
dismay.  How  should  she  begin  the  domestic 
catechism  with  such  an  interested  spectator  as 
either  would  prove  ? 

The  parlor  door  stood  ajar,  and  a  happy  thought 
suggested  itself. 

"  Which  of  you  came  first  ? " 

"  Me,  ma'am."  And  the  face  of  the  younger 
brightened  with  a  pleasant  smile  that  made  Mrs. 
Cooper  incline  very  much  towards  her.  "  Good- 
natured,  I  am  sm'e,  and  neat,"  she  thought,  as  she 
glanced  at  the  girl's  dress.  "  And  what  is  your 
name  ? " 

"  Tiny,  if  you  please,  ma'am." 


THE  LAUNCH.  115 

Mrs.  Cooper  could  not  check  a  smile,  with  all 
her  dignity  as  "  the  mistress,"  when  she  looked  at 
the  strong  figure  and  stout  rosy  face. 

"  Christiana  it  is,  ma'am  ;  but  it 's  long,  sure, 
and  most  calls  me  Tiny,"  added  the  girl,  in  ex- 
planation. 

"  "Well,  Tiny,  come  into  the  parlor,  and  let  me 
hear  what  you  can  do.     Can  you  wash  ? " 

"  It 's  I  that  can,  ma'am." 

"  And  iron  ? " 

"  The  master's  shirts,  and  all  but  the  finery." 

"  Oh,  my  nurse  always  does  the  muslins  ! " 
And  Mrs.  Cooper  grew  every  moment  more  pre- 
possessed in  favor  of  the  clear  gray  eyes  raised  to 
hers  so  honestly. 

"  Do  you  like  the  country  ?  "We  are  going  to 
the  country." 

"  Is  it  for  the  summer,  ma'am  ? " 

"  ]^o  ;  for  the  whole  year." 

Tlie  question  sounded  like  a  damper.  Ann, 
the  present  incumbent,  had  gratuitously  informed 
her  mistress  that  she  never  would  be  able  to  get  a 
girl  "  that  thought  any  thing  of  themselves  "  to 
wash  wliere  the  water  did  not  come  into  the  house. 


116  THE  COOPEES. 

or  to  stay  in  the  country  under  any  capacity  after 
the  leaves  fell. 

"  Well,  I  likes  the  country,  ma'am,"  said  the 
girl,  after  a  moment's  consideration. 

Mrs.  Cooper  was  enraptured.  Ifotwithstand- 
ing  her  late  experience,  she  was  ready  to  engage 
the  applicant  at  once  without  an  inquiry  for  char- 
acter— washing  and  liking  the  country  having 
been  her  "  lions  in  the  way." 

"  You  understand  your  business  thoroughly,  I 
hope." 

"Ma'am?" 

"  You  can  do  all  you  undertake,  I  mean  ;  be- 
cause I  know  nothing  whatever  of  the  kitchen ; 
and  it  would  all  come  upon  you." 

Short-sighted  Mrs.  Cooper  to  make  this  con- 
fession to  one  who  was  nevertheless  to  be  under 
her  orders  I 

"  Yes,  ma'am,"  said  Tiny,  apparently  a  little 
mystified. 

"  Do  you  understand  breakfast-cakes,  rolls,  and 
all  these  things  ?  " 

Ann's  real  or  pretended  ignorance  in  this 
branch  of  art  had  caused  Mr.  Cooper  to  stipulate 


THE  LAUNCH.  117 

that  her  successor  should  be  fully  qualified  to 
make  the  best  use  of  the  anticipated  fresh  milk 
and  eggs. 

"  No,  ma'am." 

The  girl  was  honest,  at  any  rate. 

"  Then,  I  suppose,  you  have  lived  where  meats 
were  put  first.  You  can  boil  and  roast,  of  course. 
Have  you  been  accustomed  to  desserts  ?  " 

"  Is  it  the  pies  an'  puddin's,  ma'am  ?  Sure  it 's 
not  a  cook  I  am  at  all." 

"  Not  a  cook  ? " 

"  No,  ma'am.  It  was  not  me  that  saw  the  ad- 
vertisement, but  my  first  cousin  ;  an'  she  just  sent 
me.     It  was  laundress  I  was  in  my  last  place." 

Mrs.  Cooper  was  really  disappointed.  Every 
time  the  girl  spoke,  her  face  gained  upon  her,  so 
civil,  so  tidy,  withal ;  and  now  that  she  ofiered 
her  "  recommends  "  without  any  hesitancy,  but  as 
a  matter  of  course  that  the  lady  would  wish  to 
see  them,  they  all  spoke  of  her  honesty  and  good 
temper. 

"  I  could  learn,  ma'am.  There  was  a  French 
cook  in  my  last  place  ;  and  I  helped  him  in  the 
hurries."  • 


118  THE   COOPERS. 

"  But  I  don't  know  enough  myself  to  teach 
you."  And  Mrs.  Cooper  made  an  inward  vow  to 
learn  before  the  year  was  out.  She  never  had  re- 
gretted her  ignorance  so  much  before. 

"  Might  I  call  in  the  mornin',  ma'am  ?  I  'm 
sure  I  should  like  to  go  wid  yous." 

Mrs.  Cooper  hesitated  for  a  moment.  She 
caught  sight  of  the  tall,  sharp-featured  applicant 
awaiting  her  turn,  and  looking  tolerably  impatient. 
The  time  was  so  short,  too,  and  there  was  so  much 
to  be  done. 

"  Yes,  you  may  call ;  but  I'm  afraid  I  could 
not  engage  you.  I  'm  sorry,  too."  And  she  looked 
so.  So  did  the  girl.  And,  though  Mrs.  Cooper 
was  well  aware  that  the  standing  phrase,  "  I  think 
by  your  looks  I  should  like  to  live  wid  yez,  ma'am," 
was  stereotyped,  among  her  class,  to  be  brought 
forward  on  these  occasions,  she  was  sure  she  told 
her  husband,  when  relating  the  afternoon's  expe- 
rience, that  Tiny  really  meant  it. 

"  Gullible  as  ever ;  swallow  things  quite  as 
easily.    But  how  did  your  marine  turn  out  ? " 

"  Just  the  name  for  her ;  but  I  really  felt  I 
ought  to  engage  her.    She  was  a  professed  cook, 


THE   LAUNCH.  lit 

though.  She  said  she  would  come  for  eight  dol- 
lars when  I  told  her  that  was  my  price.  She  un- 
derstood breakfast-cakes  especially,  and  desserts, 
every  thing,  in  fact ;  and  that's  why  I  told  Tiny 
that  I  especially  wanted  some  one  capable  in  these 
things,  as  I  did  not  understand  them." 

"  And  the  parlor-door  was  probably  left  open ; 
and  the  giantess  heard  you  say  so." 

"  Why,  so  it  was  !  Why,  I  never  thought  of 
that !  And  I've  been  half  vexed  ever  since  to 
think  I  should  let  her  looks  decide  against  her. 
But  she  had  such  a  cross  face  ;  and  she  was  so  tall 
and  determined  I  really  was  afraid  of  her." 

"  Why  don't  you  take  the  one  you  liked  so 
much,  and  teach  her  ? " 

"  I  don't  know  myself." 

"  You  can't  learn  younger ;  and  you  can't  ex- 
pect to  have  a  professed  cook  all  your  life  at  your 
elbow.  Isn't  there  any  quantity  of  books  about 
cooking.  Miss  Leslie's,  and  Mrs.  Hale's,  and  lots 
of  others  ?  Why,  what  did  I  know  about  garden- 
ing a  week  ago  ? " 

What  did  he  know  now  ? 

Mrs.  Cooper  glanced  at  his  complacent  face 


120  THE  COOPERS. 

and  his  pile  of  instructive  volumes,  and  thought 
theory  all  very  weU  in  its  way  ;  but  practice  and 
judgment  were  much  more  to  be  relied  on. 

However,  she  made  a  desperate  resolve ;  and, 
as  places  were  plenty,  and  no  more  satisfactory 
person  made  her  appearance.  Tiny  was  engaged, 
and  Mr.  Cooper  commissioned  with  adding  cook- 
ery-books to  their  country  library.  So  his  wife's 
mind  was  once  more  comparatively  free  to  finish 
her  purchases. 

Chamber  furniture  came  next  under  considera- 
tion, according  to  the  practical  advice  of  "  Aunt 
Agnes  "  to  "  have  chambers  well  furnished  whe- 
ther there  was  any  thing  in  the  parlors  or  not ; " 
and  very  little  was  left  for  drawing-room  elegan- 
cies by  the  time  they  came  to  consider  them. 
Bedsteads  could  not  be  used  without  mattresses 
and  pillows — another  bill  unprovided  for  in  the 
original  calculation  ;  and  then  there  was  the  large 
hall  they  had  congratulated  themselves  upon  as  a 
delightfully  cool  sitting-room  in  summer.  The 
oil-cloth  to  cover  so  many  square  feet  cost  as 
much  as  a  parlor  carpet ;  and  it  would  look  mis- 


THE  LAUNCH.  121 

erably  bare,  they  Loth  acknowledged,  without 
chairs  and  a  table. 

"  I  hadn't  the  least  idea  it  took  so  many  things 
to  go  to  housekeeping  with — had  you  ? "  said  Mrs. 
Cooper,  disconsolately.  "  Where  in  the  world  are 
the  carpets  and  curtains  to  come  from  ?  "We  must 
have  stores  to  begin  with — ^no  running  to  the  cor- 
ner grocery  there,  you  know — and  coal  and  wood. 
Good  gracious,  Martha !  why,  there's  nothing  at 
all  for  the  parlor  and  dining-room  furniture  I  We 
shall  have  to  make  some  bills,  anyhow." 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  foreseen  this  difficulty,  for 
she  kept  a  much  better  account  of  what  they  were 
spending  than  her  husband  had.  She  knew  pretty 
well,  also,  how  he  would  propose  to  meet  it.  But 
no,  they  must  not  set  out  with  bills,  or  bills  it 
would  'be  to  the  end  of  their  housekeeping  ;  and 
one  of  the  agreements  of  the  new  firm  was  that 
neither  party  should  draw  more  than  twelve  hun- 
dred dollars  for  the  first  year.  She  had  pondered 
many  a  perplexed  hour,  and  revolved  more  than 
one  scheme,  before  she  settled  on  any  thing. 

"  What  areyjQ  going  to  do  then  ?  live  in  empty 


6 


122  THE   C00PEK8. 

rooms  ? "  Mr.  Cooper  said,  as  she  objected  to  the 
credit  system. 

"  No ;  go  as  far  as  we  can  with  the  money, 
and  wait  till  next  year  for  the  rest." 

"  We  may  be  no  better  off  next  year." 

"  "Well,  get  what  is  absolutely  necessary,  and 
go  without  until  you  do  get  ahead." 

"  But  it  will  look  so  very  odd." 

"Who  to?" 

"  Why,  everybody — ^the  neighbors." 

"  We  don't  know  any  thing  about  them." 

"  But  we  shall  know  them." 

"  Now,  Murray,  it's  not  at  all  like  you  to  care 
what  people  say  ;  that's  my  weakness." 

"  It's  for  you  I  should  feel  it ;  and  there  are 
our  own  friends,  at  any  rate." 

"They  know  exactly  how  we  are  situated. 
And  we  shall  have  the  comfort  of  knowing  that 
we  have  not  pinched  ourselves  in  what  was  really 
necessary." 

"  But  we  must  have  carpets  and  curtains.  I've 
heard  you  say  often  that  your  idea  of  the  country 
was  roses  and  vines  out  of  the  window,  and  full 
muslin  draperies  inside." 


THE   LAUNCH.  123 

"  Yes ;  I  believe  it  was  harder  to  give  up  tlie 
curtains  than  an  j  thing.  It  always  was  a  pet  fancy 
of  mine ;  and,  as  to  carpets,  we  must  be  content 
with  ingrain.  The  chambers  will  do  very  well 
with  matting  for  the  present." 

"  Ingrain  !  Why,  it's  scarcely  considered  the 
thing  on  a  bedroom  floor  nowadays  !  I  heard 
yoa  and  Lizzie  Grant  discussing  it  that  evening 
you  told  her  we  were  going  into  the  country." 

"  I  know  it ;  but  I  detest  a  cheap  carpet ;  and 
a  good  Brussels  or  velvet  is  beyond  us  entirely. 
At  any  rate,  there  is  nothing  pretentious  about  an 
ingrain.  It  may  be  '  poor ; '  but  it's  not  shabby 
genteel ;  that  is  my  horror." 

"  But,  even  with  ingrain  carpets  and  Holland 
shades,  there  will  be  very  little  left  for  furniture," 
said  ]\Ir.  Cooper.  "The  cheapest  sofa  we  saw 
yesterday  was  thirty-five  ;  and  the  chairs  were 
four — those  very  ugly  mahogany  chairs.  I  know 
you  did  not  like  them." 

"  Gh,  I've  altered  my  mind  since  I  I  think 
those  we  bought  for  the  spare  room  will  do  for 
the  parlor ;  and  we  can  get  some  like  the  two  hall 
chairs  for  the  diuing-room." 


124  THE   C00PEB8. 

Mr.  Cooper  responded  with  a  whistle,  and 
then :  "  Who  ever  sees  a  parlor  without  stuffed 
chairs — mahogany  at  the  very  least  ? " 

"  I  can't  help  it.  I'd  rather  have  those  grace- 
ful chamber  chairs  than  ugly  or  cheap  ones  that 
would  hurt  my  eyes  as  long  as  they  lasted,  and 
want  gluing  every  time  any  one  sat  down  in  a 
hurry.  Besides,  it's  the  only  way  I  can  possibly 
think  of.  And  you  don't  know  how  I've  worried 
over  it." 

Mrs.  Cooper's  mental  worry  and  physical  exer- 
tion had  indeed  worn  upon  her ;  and,  when  the 
last  week  came,  and  she  began  to  think  over  hgr 
packing — of  the  getting  settled  when  they  were 
moved — she  was  ready  to  sit  down  in  despair. 
Mr.  Cooper  could  not  be  expected  to  comprehend 
it,  of  course,  and  came  home  nightly  in  the  high- 
est good  humor,  and  as  pleased  as  a  child  with  a 
new  toy,  at  the  idea  of  being  in  "his  own  house," 
as  he  chose  to  call  it,  the  very  next  week.  Mrs. 
Cooper  would  have  found  it  harder  still  if  all  the 
furniture  had  to  be  packed.  Fortunately,  there 
were  but  very  few  things  to  go  from  the  house. 
Even  putting  up  their  clothes,  mantel  ornaments, 


THE   LAUNCH.  125 

^tad  the  thousand  and  one  little  things  gathered 
in  the  last  two  years,  were  almost  too  much  for 
her,  with  the  prospect  of  a  disordered,  unfurnished 
house,  with  cleaning  and  whitewashing  for  two 
weeks  to  come.  The  last  two  days,  she  was  unde- 
niably cross.  Johnny,  of  course,  was  neglected, 
and  took  cold  in  the  general  uproar.  She  packed 
her  keys  at  the  bottom  of  the  largest  trunk  ;  and 
lost  a  whole  morning  in  searching  the  house  over 
before  her  nui'se  suggested  that  perhaps  she  had 
done  so.  ' 

An  hour  of  car  time  ;  the  new  tenant  moving 
»  in  trunks  and  boxes,  her  own  going  out ;  no  din- 
ner, not  even  lunch,  and  the  nurse  gone  an  hour 
for  Johnny's  milk.  Was  there  ever  so  much  to 
try  a  woman's  temper  ?  Mr.  Cooper,  in  the  bland- 
est of  humors,  fairly  picked  up  mother  and  child, 
and  carried  them  to  the  cab,  piled  perilously  with 
trunks.  Mrs.  Cooper  pulled  her  veil  over  her  face 
as  soon  as  she  was  seated  in  the  cars,  and  cried, 
her  usual  resource  in  all  emergencies.  She  was 
cold  and  tired,  and  faint  for  want  of  food.  Worse 
still ;  the  much  trusted  Tiny,  who  was  to  have 
met  them  at  the  depot,  and  who  would  at  least 


126  THE    C00PEE8. 

have  been  capable  of  boiling  a  tea-kettle,  was 
nowhere  to  l^e  found.  Of  course,  there  was  a  de- 
tention. The  engine  gave  out  five  miles  from 
Irvington,  and  a  weary  hour  was  passed,  while 
impatient  passengers  slammed  the  door  every 
other  moment,  jarring  her  aching  head,  and  let- 
ting in  a  damp  east  wind. 

Johnny  was  hungry  and  tired  as  well  as 
Johnny's  mamma.  To  crown  the  discomforts  of 
the  flitting,  the  milk  had  been  put  up  in  the  yeast 
bottlfe,  and  was  as  bitter  as — ^hops  I 

Johnny's  roars  were  redoubled  by  hungry  dis- 
appointment. Passengers  indulged  in  remarks 
which  were  uncomfortably  audible  in  the  stillness. 
Mr.  Cooper  alone  sustained  himself,  and  grew 
almost  jubilant. 

"  All  pretence,  Murray's  good  spirits,  or  igno- 
rance. Little  he  knows  of  getting  settled."  And 
Mi*8.  Cooper  drew  a  meutal  picture  of  what 
awaited  her  :  rooms  blockaded  by  unpacked  fur- 
niture, cold  and  comfortless ;  darkness,  withal, 
when  they  should  have  had  two  hours  of  day- 
light ;  china  to  be  unpacked  and  washed  before 


THE   LA-UNCH.  127 

they  could  eat,  and  bedsteads  to  be  set  up  before 
she  might  rest. 

She  thought  of  Mr.  Henderson's  predicted 
chills,  and  shivered  as  they  forlornly  emptied 
themselves  at  last  on  the  platform  of  the  depot. 
The  fences  were  brown  and  gray  in  the  twilight, 
the  trees  almost  leafless,  the  roads  muddy. 

"  Here  we  are ! "  said  Mr.  Cooper,  as  the 
shabby-looking  public  conveyance  drew  up  for 
them.  He  could  not  have  rubbed  his  hands  with 
more  outward  satisfaction  if  it  had  been  the  Astor 
House  carriage  to  bear  them  to  rooms  secured  in 
advance,  and  an  unquestionable  tahle  cPhote. 

"  I  wonder  if  we  can  find  some  candles ;  un- 
fortunate, this  arriving  so  late.  Come,  cheer  up, 
Matty  ;  it's  all  in  a  lifetime." 

But  Mrs.  Cooper  would  not  even  look  out  until 
they  stopped  in  front  of  the  gate.  What  could  it 
mean  ?  Tliere  were  lights  in  the  house  above  and 
below.  Mr.  Cooper  did  not  give  her  time  to  ask, 
but  lifted  her  out  of  the  vehicle,  and  would  not 
set  her  down  except  upon  the  threshold ;  and 
there  stood  the  missing  Tiny,  neat  and  cheerful, 
with  her  hearty  salutation  :    "  You  're  welcome 


128  THE  C00PEE8. 

home,  ma'am."  And  beyond  her,  through  the 
open  door  of  the  dining-room,  a  fire  lighted  np,  a 
tea-table  already  spread,  and  an  appetizing  odor 
of  broiled  ham,  unsentimental,  but  acceptable, 
was  diffused  through  the  hall. 

"  Run  right  up  to  your  room,  Matty.  Don't 
stop  here,"  said  Mr.  Cooper,  reappearing  with 
Johnny.  "  All  right  up  there.  Tiny  ?  Bring 
some  milk  for  the  boy." 

Mrs.  Cooper  was  dumb.  No  wrecks  of  pack- 
ing-boxes obstructed  the  hall.  The  stairs  were 
carpeted,  so  was  her  own  room,  and  a  cheerful 
fire  there  also.  No  stranger  would  have  known 
that  it  had  been  uninhabited.  The  furniture  was 
arranged  oddly,  perhaps,  but  very  comfortably ; 
and  before  the  fire  stood  a  pretty  work-table  she 
had  longed  for,  but  denied  herself  when  pur- 
chasing the  rest,  and  her  own  nursery  chair. 

"There,"  said  Mr.  Cooper,  putting  her  into 
it,  "what  do  you  think  of  me  for  a  house- 
keeper 2 " 

J  Ever  thoughtful  of  her  comfort  and  pleasure, 
this  pattern  husband  had  concocted  and  carried 
out  his  little  plot  with  the  aid  of  the  ex-laundress, 


THE   LAUNCH.  129 

Tiny,  who  proved  to  have  inexhaustible  good 
humor  and  a  little  knowledge  of  every  thing. 
Already  she  had  relieved  the  tu-ed  nurse  of  her 
fractious  charge,  and  was  feeding  him  as  handily 
as  possible. 

Mrs.  Cooper,  completely  exhausted,  slept  until 
long  after  sunrise  the  next  morning.  A  fresh  soft 
au'  greeted  her  as  she  threw  up  the  window.  The 
sky  was  blue  as  in  midsummer;  the  springing 
grass  had  already  brightened  the  little  lawn  ;  and 
crocuses  bloomed  in  the  flower  borders ;  birds 
were  singing,  as  though  summer  was  already 
come ;  and  she  heard  her  boy  call  out  with  de- 
light, and  clap  his  hands,  as  he  was  borne  about 
on  his  father's  shoulder. 

They  came  in  as  she  entered  the  dining-room, 
and  took  her  place  at  the  neatly  spread  breakfast- 
table.  The  child  laid  the  first  flower  his  plump 
little  hands  had  ever  gathered  beside  her  plate ; 
and  her  husband  stooped  and  kissed  her  forehead 
softly  at  the  same  time. 

Mrs.  Cooper  looked  up  with  a  loving,  grateful 
smile. 

6* 


130  THE  OOOPEK8. 

"But  I  can  scarcely  believe  it  yet,  Murray. 
It  is  all  so  like  a  story-book."  And  her  husband 
felt  more  than  repaid  for  his  three  days'  stolen  and 
unaccustomed  task-work. 


CHAPTEE  VI. 


DAILY  TKIALS. 


One  can  bear  the  laceration  of  a  severe  wound  heroically.  It  is  the  re- 
peated Bting  of  swarming  gnats  that  drives  lis  to  distraction. — My  Novii. 

'  "  It  seems  to  me  we  have  a  great  deal  of 
broiled  ham  lately,"  said  Mr.  Cooper,  seating 
himself  at  the  dinner-table.  He  professed  himself 
to  be  as  hungry  as  a  hunter ;  and  no  doubt  he 
was,  for  he  had  hurried  to  town  without  any 
breakfast  that  morning,  eaten  a  superficial  lun- 
cheon, and  had  been  zealously  at  work  in  the  gar- 
den since  the  arrival  of  the  early  afternoon  train. 
"  Let  me  see  :  we  had  ham  on  Saturday." 

"  Yes,  I  know,"  explained  Mrs.  Cooper,  a  little 
nervously.  "  We  were  so  busy  getting  the  kitchen 
closets  in  order." 

'•  And  ham  on  Monday." 

"  Wash-day,  Murray ;  and  there  were  so  many 


132  THE   COOPERS. 

clothes  left  over,  last  week,  that  I  told  Tiny  not  to 
mind  about  dinner  for  one  day." 

"  Yes.  Well,  to-day  is  Thursday  ;  what 's  the 
matter  with  Thui-sday  ? " 

"  "We  had  beefsteak  yesterday." 

"  I  know  it.  Beefsteak  is  about  as  regular  as 
the  ham." 

"  But  there  was  roast  beef  on  Sunday ;  and 
you  know  you  never  want  any  but  the  very  best 
piece  ;  and  we  must  be  economical." 

"  Beefsteak — porter-house  steaks — such  as  we 
have,  are  quite  as  expensive,"  said  Mr.  Cooper, 
helping  himself  to  a  potato. 

"  But  they  are  so  easy  to  do." 

"  Ah  !  how  about  the  cookery-books  ?  Now 
we  begin  to  get  at  it.  Ham  is  '  easy  to  do,'  isn't 
it?" 

"  I  should  like  to  know  what  time  I  have  for 
cookery-books  or  any  thing  else,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper, 
who  had  been  toiling  all  day  in  that  department 
of  "  settling,"  which  is  so  tiresome,  and  yet  makes 
so  little  show — getting  boxes  and  drawers  in  order. 

"  We  've  been  here  three  weeks  now.     It 's 


DAILY   TBTAT.fi.  133 

pretty  near  time  we  were  through,  Martha.  Think 
how  much  I  did  in  three  days." 

Mrs.  Cooper  was  silent.  She  knew  he  had  ac- 
complished a  great  deal.  But,  when  she  came  to 
inspect  his  arrangement^,  some  of  them  had  to  be 
entirely  remodelled,  others  dispensed  with  alto- 
gether ;  and,  when  all  was  granted,  when  carpets 
and  matting  were  down,  beds  up,  and  chairs  set 
about  the  room,  that  was  the  least,  because  the 
most  quickly  accomplished  in  the  toil  of  getting 
to  rights. 

"  We  had  to  take  down  every  dish  in  the 
china-closet  for  one  thing,  and  clean  the  shelves, 
this  morning,"  she  said,  presently  ;  "  and  my  ai-m 
aches  now  with  dusting  books  and  putting  them 
up  ;  then  I  unpacked  my  piece-trunk  and  the  box 
with  your  winter  clothes,  and  had  to  contrive  a 
place  for  the  bed-linen." 

"  What  ?  with  all  these  closets  ? " 

"  Every  one  is  full." 

"  How  did  we  ever  live  in  two  rooms  of  a 
boarding-house  ? " 

"  I  'm  sure  I  don't  know.  I  've  thought  of  it 
a  dozen  times  to-day.     Oh,  and  Murray,  please 


134  THE   COOPERS. 

bring  up  Bome  clothes-pins  to-morrow,  and  a  fish- 
kettle  !  and  I  wanted  to  make  some  cake  to-day, 
and  there 's  no  rose-water." 

"  I  wonder  if  we  shall  ever  get  finished.  I  'm 
always  loaded  with  packages.  They  will  begin  to 
call  me  *  the  man  with  the  parcel '  in  the  cars ; 
though,  fot  that  matter,  every  man  carries  a  bun- 
dle.    I  never  saw  any  thing  like  it." 

Mr.  Cooper  had  managed  to  "  crowd  down," 
as  he  expressed  it,  "  two  large  slices  of  the  deli- 
cately broiled  ham,  four  potatoes,  two  spoonsful 
of  rice  and  a  plate  of  spinach,"  and  now  leaned 
back  in  one  of  the  new  chairs  waiting  for  the  cloth 
to  be  removed,  lamenting,  as  he  often  did,  at  this 
stage  of  the  proceedings,  his  constitutional  lack 
of  appetite.  The  complaint  of  parcels  was  more 
just.  Every  day  had  revealed  some  new  necessity 
despite  the  labor-saving  list  of  Berian.  The  first 
time  they  sat  down  to  dinner  they  noticed  that 
something  was  wanting  in  the  general  contour  of 
the  table.  Mr.  Cooper  remarked  it ;  his  wife 
agreed  ;  and  they  discovered  what  it  was  when  he 
stretched  out  his  hand  habitually  for  the  pepper. 
They  had  forgotten  a  castor  ;  and  the  tin  pepper- 


DAILY   TKIALS.  135 

box  from  the  kitchen  was  pressed  into  service  for 
the  meal. 

Tiny  made  no  allusion  to  the  lack  of  wooden 
pins  on  the  first  washing-day,  for  the  line  was 
missing  also,  and  the  clothes  were  dried  on  the 
bnshes  and  garden-fence  ;  but  they  could  not  well 
be  smoothed  without  irons  ;  and  that  part  of  her 
labor  was  put  off  for  two  days,  waiting  for  Mr. 
Cooper  to  bring  them  out.  The  first  day  he  had 
too  many  other  things ;  the  second,  he  forgot  them, 
having  been  busy  at  the  store  up  to  the  last  mo- 
ment. So,  as  his  wife  had  told  him,  the  washing 
was  sadly  behind-hand ;  and  every  housekeeper 
knows  how  that  interferes  with  all  other  arrange- 
ments, particularly  when  the  laundress  is  also 
cook  and  waiter. 

As  for  the  nurse,  Catherine,  or  "  Taty,"  as  her 
charge  called  her,  she  was  constantly  busy  in 
looking  after  him.  She  considered  it  necessary 
to  spend  just  as  much  time  on  his  toilet  as  if  he 
was  going  out  on  Broadway  or  Washington  Square. 
Mrs.  Cooper  had  never  before  realized  how  much 
of  every  day  was  taken  up  with  it  until  she  needed 
Kate's  assistance.     Johnny's  hair  did  not  curl  nat- 


136  THE    CX)OPEES. 

urallj  ;  but  an  hour  of  every  morning  was  spent 
in  coaxing  it  into  the  ringlets  prescribed  by  fash- 
ion, with  the  aid  of  soap  and  water,  a  curling-stick 
and  brush.  The  same  operation  was  gone  through 
with  at  night  before  his  father  came  home.  He 
still  wore  white  dresses,  one  a  day,  and  two  aprons 
barely  suflScing  to  keep  him  respectable,  with  the 
house  in  so  much  confusion  and  the  kitchen-porch 
so  accessible.  His  short  white  petticoats,  his  low 
patent-leather  shoes,  and  thread  socks,  the  flying 
shoulder-knots  of  broad  ribbon,  and  the  sash  for 
afternoon  wear,  were  all  equally  suitable  to  John- 
ny's present  state  and  condition  ;  his  walks  being 
confined  to  a  back  country  road,  and  visitors,  so 
far,  a  thing  unknown.  Of  course,  it  occupied  no 
small  time  to  keep  this  extensive  wardrobe  in 
order;  but  Mrs.  Cooper  had  always  considered 
herself  very  economical  with  Johnny,  because  he 
wore  stout  threadlace  where  the  children  of  her 
fiiends  appeared  in  Yalenciennes.  The  deep  Eng- 
lish embroidery  on  his  pantalettes  was  done  by 
her  own  needle,  for  her  first  essay  in  fancy-work 
had  been  followed  up  industriously.  He  had  but 
one  pair  of  sleeve-ribbons  to  every  four  soiled  by 


DiLlLY  TRIALS.  137 

Ms  cousin,  Frank  Murray,  and  a  cashmere  coat 
instead  of  a  velvet  one.  That  embroidery,  Yalen- 
ciennes,  and  sleeve-ribbons  could  be  dispensed 
with  altogether  had  not  entered  into  his  mother's 
calculations.  A  good  dark  merino  coat  would 
outlast  two  of  pale  ashes-of-roses  in  fine  cashmere, 
which  showed  every  touch,  and  faded  at  every 
sunbeam  ;  but  "  nobody  put  such  young  children 
into  plain  merinoes  ;  they  had  such  an  old  look." 
As  for  colored  frocks,  nothing  could  be  endured 
before  the  plaid  cashmeres  which  he  was  to  have 
when  he  came  to  sacks  the  next  winter.  The 
chamber-work  fell  to  Kate's  share,  as  in  town  ; 
but  Mrs.  Cooper  often  made  up  her  room  rather 
than  see  it  in  disorder  until  after  lunch-time,  as  in 
the  days  of  the  lamented  Julia ;  and,  in  that  ap- 
pointed for  her  servants'  occupancy,  she  did  not 
care  to  look,  for  her  reprimands  were  sure  to  be 
met  with  the  excuse  that  "  there  was  no  time  ; " 
and  the  girls  as  well  as  herself  did  seem  busy  all 
day. 

Notwithstanding  the  well-filled  bookcase,  and 
her  piano,  their  parlor  had  an  uncomfortably  new 
look  after  the  heavier  furniture  to  which  she  had 


138  THE   C00PEK8. 

been  so  long  accustomed ;  and  the  dining-room 
was  plainer  still,  containing  only  such  things  as 
were  absolutely  necessary  to  the  ceremony  of  daily 
meals.  There  was  a  lack  of  "  cosiness,"  the  home 
look  Mrs.  Cooper  particularly  prized  ;  and,  when 
visitore  began  to  pay  "  fii'st  calls "  on  the  "  new 
family,"  as  they  were  designated,  she  found  her- 
self feeling  an  inward  necessity  for  apologizing, 
which  made  her  stiff  and  constrained,  instead  of 
frank  and  cordial,  which  was  her  natural  disposi- 
tion. One  cannot  throw  cold  water  on  offered 
courtesies,  after  this  fashion,  without  getting  a 
share  of  the  spray  back  again  ;  and  Mrs.  Cooper, 
not  considering  herself  at  fault,  wrote  to  her  inti- 
mate friend,  Lizzie  Grant,  that  the  neighbors  were 
very  reserved  and  formal,  and  she  never  should 
make  any  friends  among  them.  In  town,  she  had 
railed  not  a  little  at  the  frittering  away  of  time 
which  morning  calls  and  society  generally  made 
necessary.  "  Hollow,"  "  formal,"  "  worldly," 
"  artificial " — all  these  epithets  had  tripped  very 
freely  into  her  discussion  of  the  outer  set  or  circle 
of  her  acquaintances.  In  the  country,  good  feel- 
ing, like  her  husband's  green  peas,  was  to  thrive 


DAILY  TEIALS.  139 

spontaneously ;  and  she  was  as  ignorant  of  its  cul- 
tivation as  Mr.  Cooper  was  of  the  soil  he  had  un- 
dertaken to  make  "  blossom  as  the  rose  "  in  a  sin- 
gle season. 

One  may  be  perfectly  well  aware  that  stimu- 
lants— even  the  morning  cup  of  coffee — are  hurt- 
ful ;  yet,  when  given  up  at  once,  they  are  missed 
and  craved  for.  Simple  beverages  are  insipid  and 
unsatisfactory,  so  much  so  that  one  is  at  first 
tempted  to  go  without  altogether.  Thus  it  was 
with  Mrs.  Cooper  and  city  life.  When  the  nov- 
elty of  getting  her  house  in  order  was  over,  time 
began  to  hang  heavily.  There  was  plenty  to  do  ; 
but,  if  she  sat  sewing,  her  thoughts,  revolving  in 
an  undisturbed  routine,  grew  wearisome.  John- 
ny's pranks  were  amusing ;  but,  after  all,  she 
could  not  interchange  a  single  idea  with  her  most 
constant  companion  apart  from  his  food  and  naps ; 
and  she  wearied  even  of  Tiny's  good-natured  face, 
and  Kate's  more  refined  but  less  amiable.  As  for 
Mr.  Cooper,  none  of  these  things  troubled  him. 
In  the  cars  and  at  business,  the  social  part  of  his 
nature  was  kept  from  stagnation ;  and  he  could 
not  see  what  people  wanted  of  company  at  home. 


140  THE    C00PEE8. 

Home  was  the  place  to  rest  in ;  to  get  out  of  the 
way  of  the  world.  It  was  such  a  relief  to  have 
no  one  to  entertain  evenings ;  to  be  able,  when  he 
came  in  from  the  garden  at  dark,  to  "  put  up  his 
feet,  and  think  of  nothing,"  as  the  old  farmer  said 
of  his  church-going.  If  his  wife  wanted  news, 
there  was  the  paper — pocket-crumpled,  smoke- 
scented  ;  but  that  was  a  trifle.  So  Mr.  Cooper's 
repose  oftenest  ended  in  a  sound  nap ;  while  his 
wife  read  items  that  were  stale  to  him  by  twel  ve 
hours — an  age  to  a  Gothamite.  Out  of  doors,  his 
energy  expended  itself.  He  dibbled  in  a  few  gar- 
den-seeds ;  for  successions,  he  walked  around  the 
beds  the  village  gardener  had  laid  out,  and 
thought  how  much  better  he  could  have  done  it 
all  himself  if  he  had  time.  He  would  have  time 
next  year ;  he  could  commence  earlier  in  the  sea- 
son, and  he  would  get  up  earlier  mornings.  Hab- 
its of  late  rising  could  not  be  broken  off  at  once. 
He  made  vigorous  resolutions  over  night,  but  slept 
them  all  off  again,  started  off  fifteen  minutes  be- 
fore the  late  train  was  due,  hurried  his  toilet, 
scalded  his  throat  with  his  coffee,  and  scarcely 
had  time  to  kiss  his  wife  good-by. 


DAILY   TRIALS.  141 

One  of  the  chief  pleasures  thej  had  promised 
themselves  as  country  dwellers  was  the  fresh 
morning  walk  to  the  depot,  such  as  they  had  en- 
joyed in  the  days  of  their  summer  at  Tarry  town. 
But,  as  Mrs.  Cooper  took  her  solitary  breakfast 
day  after  day,  watching  from  the  window  her  hus- 
band's rapid  flight,  she  concluded  that  it  would 
not  be  worth  while  attempting  to  play  Mrs.  Gilpin 
in  such  a  foot-race. 

It  was  beautiful  to  behold  Mr.  Cooper's  energy 
in  out-of-door  pursuits.  The  garden  was  his  pet 
economy,  a  fowl-house  being  scarcely  secondary 
to  it.  He  commenced  by  ordering  "  a  few  things  " 
from  a  well-known  nursery-garden.  "  A  rosebush 
or  so,  a  few  roots  of  pie-plants,  a  root  of  pinks,  a 
handful  of  grape-vine  cuttings,  you  know,"  was 
his  concise  and  limited  direction. 

"  Oh  yes,  certainly,  sir !  "  The  man  under- 
stood him  perfectly.  The  order  waa-  filled  out — so 
was  the  bill,  which  came  just  to  forty-five  dollars. 
Mr.  Cooper  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  mention 
the  amount  of  this  little  transaction  at  once  to  his 
wite,  ana  tnerefore  his  qualms  were  in  secret  when 
he  heard  her  congratulate  herself  and  him  on  hav- 


142  THE  CXX)PEE8. 

iog  saved  at  least  fifty  dollare  in  going  without 
almost  necessaries  the  present  year.  Seeds,  dig- 
ging and  planting,  pea-bushes,  bean-poles,  a  few 
half  days'  extra  work  at  weeding  and  thinning 
out,  and  in  the  flower  borders,  made  a  tolerable 
offset  to  the  vegetable  department.  Mr.  Cooper 
turned  for  consolation  to  his  fowls.  Poultry-shows 
were  fashionable  that  season.  He  attended  by 
way  of  gaining  information,  and  could  not  resist 
the  temptation  of  a  few  "fancies,"  just  to  improve 
the  plain  domestic  couples  with  which  he  had  com- 
menced his  collection.  Internal  wars  ensued ;  dis- 
cords were  the  order  of  the  day ;  they  fought,  they 
bled,  they  did  every  thing  but  what  was  expected 
of  them,  lay  eggs  by  the  dozen,  and  bring  up  their 
families  in  a  painstaking  and  affectionate  manner. 
The  fancy  fowls  "  did  not  do  well,"  in  short ;  and, 
as  they  died  off  one  by  one  from  various  causes, 
Mr.  Cooper  did  not  mourn  them  deeply,  though 
he  did  regret  the  sums  they  had  cost  him. 

The  "  Complete  Handbooks  "  had  stated  that 
the  fowls  were  to  be  supported  on  the  refuse  ot 
the  kitchen,  and  the  range  of  the  barnyard,  not 
only  comfortably  but  elegantly.     As  there  was  no 


DAILY   TRIALS.  143 

barnyard,  corn  by  the  bushel  took  the  place  of 
"  pickings  ; "  and  Tiny,  not  being  over-scrupulous 
in  the  management  of  peelings  and  parings,  al- 
lowed them  to  become  a  sad  temptation  to  all  the 
dogs  of  the  neighborhood,  who  were  so  much  de- 
lighted with  the  bones  they  found  in  the  collec- 
tion, that  they  paid  nightly  domiciliary  visits,  to 
the  upsetting  of  pails,  and  a  wide  distribution  of 
their  contents  on  the  back  porch  and  its  imme- 
diate neighborhood. 

Presently,  there  was  a  knocking  together  of 
packing-boxes  for  coops,  Mr.  Cooper  fancying  that 
the  juveniles  of  the  chicken-house  would  do  better 
under  immediate  surveillance ;  and  the  thirty  or 
forty  young  chickens  that  began  to  promenade 
anywhere  in  Tiny's  dominions,  and  their  scream- 
ing, scolding  mammas  protruding  their  luckless 
heads  through  the  slats  of  their  cottage  residences, 
completed  the  neatness  and  quietness  of  the  back- 
door yard. 

Tiny's  delinquencies  were  especially  trying. 
She  was  cleanly,  but  she  had  not  the  slightest 
appreciation  of  order  or  management.  She  liked 
to  wash  and  iron,  for  that  she  understood.     Get- 


144  THE  OOOPEBS. 

ting  breakfast  or  dinner  she  considered  as  so  much 
thrown  into  the  bargain  that  was  of  very  little 
consequence,  and  the  sooner  and  easier  it  was 
managed  the  better.  She  could  boil  potatoes,  and 
boil  or  roast  a  plain  steak  or  joint.  Gravies  were 
a  step  beyond  her  experience,  and  desserts  an 
altogether  unexplored  region.  In  cooking,  she 
seized  the  first  utensil  that  presented  itself,  boiled 
milk  for  the  baby  in  the  quart  measure,  washed 
the  dishes  in  the  bread-pan,  swept  the  porch  clear 
of  chickens  with  the  carpet-broom,  kept  a  general 
assortment  of  odds  and  ends  on  the  comer  of  the 
mantel-piece,  and  in  every  corner  of  the  closets, 
though  she  cleaned  them  laboriously  once  a  week, 
and  set  the  cups  and  plates  of  pieces,  drippings, 
cold  tea,  egg-shells,  and  meat  scraps  immediately 
back  again.  Her  sewing  found  a  neat  and  conve- 
nient receptacle  in  the  salt-box.  The  salt  col- 
lected dust  in  an  uncovered  cake-pan.  The  spice 
soon  mingled  its  various  odors  and  flavors  in  one  ; 
while  the  pump,  the  cistern-top,  the  railing  of  the 
back  piazza,  and  the  garden-fence  always  presented 
a  collection  of  dusters,  brooms,  scrubbing-brushes, 
kitchen -towels,  and  scrubbing-cloths  of  every  pat- 


DAILY   TRIALS.  145 

tern  and  color.  Withal,  she  was  so  good-natured, 
so  ready  to  promise  amendment,  though  as  quick 
to  forget,  so  steadily  occupied,  half  the  time,  in 
"  making  herself  work,"  by  her  bad  management, 
so  patient  with  interruptions,  so  good-natured  to 
Johnny,  that  Mrs.  Cooper  could  not  make  up  her 
mind  to  change. 

The  accumulation  of  sewing,  which  their  sud- 
den going  to  housekeeping  had  thrown  upon  her 
hands ;  the  lack  of  cheerful  society ;  the  gradually 
increasing  domestic  disorder,  which  she  lacked  the 
skill  and  the  courage  to  check  ;  the  strain,  above 
all,  to  limit  their  outlay  to  their  diminished  in- 
come ;  the  mental  worry  of  making  one  dollar  do 
the  duty  of  three,  and  the  unusual  tax  upon 
thought  as  well  as  nerve  in  finishing  what  Katy 
would  not  find  time  to  accomplish,  and  Tiny 
could  not,  about  the  house,  began  to  tell  upon 
Mrs.  Cooper's  health,  and  seriously  to  affect  her 
once  cheerful  spirits. 

In  town,  she  had  often  excused  herself  from 
out-of-door  exercise  by  the  trouble  and  time  occu- 
pied in  dressing  for  the  street.  "  It  would  be  so 
easy  when  they  were  once  in  the  country,"  she 


146  THE  COOPERS. 

often  said  to  Murray ;  slie  "  would  only  have  to 
throw  on  her  bonnet,  and  she  should  have  so 
much  more  leisure."  Now,  she  had  less  than 
ever ;  and,  when  worn  and  fatigued  with  the  cares 
of  housework,  or  bending  over  her  needle,  it  was 
so  much  easier  to  take  a  book,  and  throw  herself 
on  the  bed,  that  she  constantly  gave  up  to  the 
temptation ;  and,  before  she  knew  it,  afternoon 
naps  were  stealing  the  strength  which  fresh  air 
and  a  change  of  the  monotonous  landscape  would 
have  brought  to  her.  "Waking  languid  and  un- 
refreshed,  Johnny,  even  when  good-natured,  dis- 
turbed her  with  his  incessant  activity  and  noise. 
So,  though  she  would  have  been  startled  if  the 
charge  had  been  made  against  her,  she  was  fast 
becoming  a  careless  housekeeper,  a  neglectful 
mother,  a  fretful,  discontented  wife.  This  much 
trying  to  economize  and  build  up  her  husband's 
fortunes  had  done  for  her  so  far. 

It  was  very  hard  that  Murray  could  not  be 
made  to  see  things  exactly  from  her  point  of  view. 
He  would  complain  when  he  found  the  meal  for 
his  young  brood  mixed  in  the  wash-basin,  or  when 
the  scrubbing-cloths  were   hung  to   dry  on   his 


DAILY   TRIALS.  lit 

young  Antwerp  raspberry  or  his  standard  rose- 
bushes. He  scolded  her  for  tiring  herself  out ; 
yet  he  was  the  first  to  notice  when  any  thing  was 
left  undone.  He  still  groaned  over  ham  and  plain 
rice-puddings,  when,  perhaps,  she  had  given  up 
her  original  plan  for  the  dinner  because  the 
butcher,  having  the  whole  village  at  his  mercy, 
asked  three  cents  a  pound  more  than  they  did  in 
Fulton  Market  for  lamb  ;  and  there  was  not  the 
fruit  and  flavoring  in  the  house  to  attempt  the 
Eve's  pudding  he  was  so  fond  of,  and  which  she 
had  carefully  studied  out  of  the  cookery-book. 
This  edifying  volume  was  her  constant  companion ; 
it  peeped  out  from  her  work-basket,  it  lay  upon 
her  dressing-table.  She  studied  as  hard  over  the 
ingredients,  weights,  and  measures,  as  she  had 
once  done  upon  the  axioms  and  problems  of 
Euclid ;  and  yet  she  made  very  little  advance  in 
the  variety  or  excellence  of  their  table.  It  was 
very  easy  in  town  to  say,  "  We  will  have  a  plain 
soup,  with  a  la  mode  beef,  Ann,  and  a  Charlotte 
Russe."  But  neither  Tiny  nor  herself  could  un- 
dertake the  first ;  and,  as  for  the  "  Charlotte," 
where  were  the  Savoy  biscuit  to  come  from  to 


148  THE   COOPERS. 

begin  witli  ?  It  was  quite  a  descent  to  a  bread- 
pudding  ;  and  then  Murray  would  be  sure  to  en- 
tertain her  with  boarding-house  tales  stale  as  col- 
lege jokes,  but  which  doubtless  had  happened  at 
some  time,  relating  to  this  "frugal  housewife" 
dessert,  his  favorite  one  being  Sam  Blodget's  ad- 
venture, who  resolved  his  suspicions  that  the 
brushings  of  tlie  table  entered  into  its  composition, 
by  breaking  up  bits  of  his  boxwood  napkin-ring 
one  day,  and,  sure  enough,  the  particles  were 
plainly  recognized,  by  some  person  in  the  secret, 
as  among  the  ingredients  of  his  saucer  of  pudding. 

He  had  also  an  uncomfortable  way  of  inquir- 
ing, now  and  then — thougli  always  doing  full  jus- 
tice to  what  was  set  before  him — when  she  was 
going  to  have  a  harico,  a  curry,  fish  done  in  that 
way  he  described  to  her — "  stewed  with  wine  and 
things,"  as  they  used  to  have  them  at  Delmonico's 
— or  some  of  those  nice  little  side-dishes  Ann 
used  to  make  by  way  of  variety.  It  was  in  vain 
to  urge  Tiny's  ignorance  ;  "you  were  going  to 
show  her,  you  know,"  or,  "  if  she  doesn't  suit,  get 
another,"  being  the  ready  response. 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  never  before  known  how 


DAILY   TRIALS.  149 

much  a  housekeeper's  peace  of  mind  depended 
upon  lier  cook.  Fortunately,  they  had  had  no  one 
staying  with  them  so  far,  Mrs.  Cooper  having  no  im- 
mediate relatives  in  the  city,  and  their  friends  being 
either  in  preparation  for  summer  jaunts,  or  already 
at  watering-places.  Mr.  Henderson,  her  husband's 
partner,  was  the  exception.  He  was  in  danger, 
through  a  standing  invitation,  and  Mr.  Cooper's 
repeated  urging,  of  raining  down  upon  them  at 
any  time  ;  and,  though  he  was  the  best-hearted, 
most  home-like  person  she  had  ever  known,  even 
Mr.  Henderson's  unexpected  arrival  fluttered  her. 
She  was  never  sure  of  Tiny's  culinary  operations, 
or  her  own  experiments,  held  her  breath  involun- 
tarily until  MuiTay  had  pronounced  on  whatever 
was  set  before  him,  and  felt  as  though  Mr.  Hen- 
derson had  conferred  an  especial  favor  upon  her 
if  he  seemed  to  enjoy  his  dinner  or  breakfast. 

Mr.  Cooper,  who  was  not  celebrated  for  his 
self-denying  efforts  in  entertaining  guests,  enjoyed 
these  visits  because  Mr.  Henderson  made  himself 
so  entirely  at  home.  He  listened  to  his  gardening 
and  poultry  theories  with  commendable  patience 
and  a  great  deal  of  real  interest ;  besides,  his  sug- 


150  THE   COOPERS. 

gestions  were  always  practical,  and  therefore 
valuable  ;  and,  when  dinner  was  out  of  the  way, 
and  Johnny  not  fretting  overhead,  and  breakfast 
provided  for  the  next  morning,  Mrs.  Cooper  al- 
ways liked  to  listen  to  him ;  he  was  so  entirely 
sincere,  so  hearty  in  his  likes  and  dislikes,  so  for- 
getful of  himself  and  his  own  achievements,  past, 
present,  or  to  come  ;  and,  above  all,  his  warm 
heart,  unspoiled  and  unchilled  by  conventionalities, 
shone  out  in  his  smile,  in  his  eyes,  in  his  whole 
face,  when  he  talked  of  his  mother  and  sisters. 

Mrs.  Cooper  knew  that  he  was  their  chief  de- 
pendence. He  had  spoken  of  it  himself  before 
her  ;  and  she  had  been  struck  with  his  manner  of 
doing  so.  JS'ot  as  if  their  lack  of  means  was  any 
tiling  to  be  ashamed  of,  or  as  if  the  dependence 
on  him  was  burdensome,  or  in  any  way  reflecting 
credit  on  himself,  but  of  the  pleasure  of  admin- 
istering to  those  one  loved,  and  his  gratitude  that 
he  had  thus  far  been  able  to  do  so.  Even  this 
much  was  inferred,  not  spoken. 

"  That 's  what  I  like  him  for,"  said  Mr.  Cooper, 
when  his  wife  remarked  it  to  him  after  one  of  Mr. 
Henderson's  pleasantest  little  visits.     "  That's  the 


DAILY   TRIALS.  151 

way  we  first  became  friends.  One  of  the  boya 
told  me  that  Steve  declined  joining  the  celebrated 
U.  V.  Club  that  I  have  told  you  about,  because  he 
had  to  take  care  of  his  mother  and  the  girls.  He 
was  our  book-keeper  in  the  '  Marine,'  then,  you 
know,  and  had  less  salary  than  I  had.  So  I  asked 
him  how  he  managed,  one  day,  over  a  sociable 
mutton-chop,  for  I  was  always  head  over  heels  on 
pay-day,  with  only  myself  to  look  after." 

"  How  did  he  ? "  asked  Mrs.  Cooper,  as  hei 
husband  made  a  pause. 

"  Oh,  well,  he  said  he  had  to  go  in  for  cheap 
pleasures  !  and  that  took  the  wind  out  of  my  sails 
for  a  moment,  because  I  thought  cheapness  and 
meanness  were  one  and  the  same,  somehow." 

"  I  begin  to  believe  they  are."  And  Mrs. 
Cooper  thought  disconsolately  on  the  few  under- 
price  investments  she  had  been  tempted  into  when 
furnishing. 

"  Not  his  sort.  There 's  nothing  mean  about 
Steve.  No.  He  explained  that  he  had  books 
from  the  '  Mercantile,'  and  went  to  their  reading- 
room  instead  of  our  club,  tooted  on  the  flute,  you 
know,  painted  a  little — and  you  ought  to  see  that 


152  THE  COOPERS. 

copy  he's  just  made  of  tlie  Old  Farm-Gate  we  saw 
at  Williams  &  Stevens's.  So  he  never  had  time 
to  smoke,  or  for  late  suppers,  or  any  of  our  per- 
formances. He  used  to  get  run  for  it.  Sam 
always  called  him  the  Grand  Mufti." 

"That  sounds  like  Sam  Blodget,"  said  Mrs. 
Cooper. 

"  But  he  never  minded.  Perhaps  he  did,  way 
down,  but  no  one  found  it  out.  I  remember," 
said  Mr.  Cooper,  gi'owing  energetic  in  his  admira- 
tion of  his  friend's  good  behavior,  now  tliat  he 
could  appreciate  something  of  the  self-denial  and 
moral  courage  it  must  have  involved — "  I  remem- 
ber once  making  a  bet  that  I  'd  have  Steve  out  on 
the  avenue,  behind  a  fast  horse,  that  afternoon ; 
and  some  of  the  fellows  were  to  be  at  the  '  Eed 
House,'  to  receive  us  with  three  cheers.  So  there 
he  was,  dabbling  away  on  a  miserable  little  land- 
scape, for  he  'd  just  begun  then. 

"  '  Come,  come,'  said  I — " 

"  Oh,  fie,  Murray,  to  try  and  turn  him  off !  " 

"  Just  you  listen.  He  picked  up  a  piece  of 
chalk,  and  began  making  marks  on  the  wall, 
never  saying  a  word.     So,  when  I  got  through. 


DAILY  TRIALS.  153 

he  pointed  to  it,  and,  said  he,  '  there's  your  an- 
swer, old  fellow — common  metre.  I  '11  give  you 
the  pitch,  if  you  'd  like  to  sing  it.'  And  there  it 
was — 

'  Idle  men  and  boys  are  found 
Standing  on  the  devil's  gronnd  ; 
He  will  give  them  work  to  do ; 
He  wiU  pay  their  wages  too.' " 

"A  great  pity  you  hadn't  laid  it  to  heart," 
said  Mrs.  Cooper,  who  was  industriously  employed 
in  drawing  threads,  and  marking  a  piece  of  towel- 
ling into  lengths.  "  There,  cut  those  off  for  me  ; 
won't  you,  Murray?  That  will  save  a  few  minutes 
of '  idle  hands,'  and  mine  a  blister,  perhaps.  I  've 
done  so  much  cutting  out,  lately." 

"  I  've  been  thinking  " — and  Mr.  Cooper  amia- 
bly responded  to  this  invitation — "  that  we  ought 
to  ask  his  mother  here  for  a  month  or  so." 

Mrs.  Cooper's  smiles  vanished. 

"She's  so  far  off;  and  he  gets  to  see  her  so 
seldom.  He  can't  leave,  any  way,  just  now," 
added  Mr.  Cooper,  without  looking  up,  and  so  all 
unconscious  of  the  gathering  clouds. 

"  She 's  a  perfect  stranger  to  us,  Murray. 
7* 


154  THE   COOPERS. 

Why,  what  are  you  thinking  of?  How  in  the 
world  can  we  have  company  ? " 

"  AVhy  can't  we  as  well  as  anybody  else  ? " 

"  Tlie  girls  have  their  hands  full  now,  and  I  'm 
sure  I  have." 

"  One  person  can 't  make  much  difference." 

Mrs.  Cooper  said  nothing. 

"  Besides  " — Mr.  Cooper  was  getting  more  in 
love  with  his  little  project  every  moment — "  I 
think  we  owe  it  to  Steve  ;  and  he  would  enjoy  it 
beyond  every  thing,  having  his  mother  so  near." 

"We  can't  afford  to  have  company.  We 
should  have  to  make  some  difference." 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  The  way  to  make  people 
feel  perfectly  at  home  is  to  let  them  see  that  they 
don't  put  one  out  by  a  pin.  Besides,  she 's  been 
accustomed  to  living  plainly,  you  know." 

"  Yes ;  and  she 's  a  good  housekeeper;  and  I — ^" 

"  Don't  know  any  more  about  it — " 

"Than  you  do  about  poultry,"  said  his  wife, 
abruptly,  to  spare  herself  a  less  comfortable  com- 
parison.    "  I  do  my  best." 

"  Well,  then,  what  are  you  fussing  about  ? " 
And  Mr.  Cooper  began  to  sing. 


DAILY   TRIALS.  155 

"  An  angel,  you  know,  can't  do  more." 

"  But  we  must  have  Mrs.  Henderson  here,  un- 
less you  have  some  better  reason  than  any  I  've 
heard  yet ;  and,  if  you  don't  know  about  things, 
and  she  does,  have  her  show  you." 

"  A  stranger  can't  come  into  another  person's 
house,  and  manage  for  them." 

Mrs.  Cooper  stooped  down,  and  began  to  fold 
up  the  lengths  of  "  huckabuck,"  for  fear  she  should 
say  something  still  more  unamiable.  She  was 
frightened  at  herself  at  the  angry  retorts  and 
miserable  feelings  that  sprang  up  in  her  heart. 
She  could  not  explain  to  her  husband  that,  jaded 
as  she  was  in  mind  and  body,  it  would  be  uncom- 
fortable to  have  any  one,  even  Lizzie  Grant,  to 
entertain,  much  more  a  stranger  so  much  older 
than  herself,  and  one  she  had  grown  to  regaf  d  an 
incarnation  of  all  household  virtues  from  her  son's 
loving  and  oftentimes  unconscious  praise.  He 
would  have  thought  it  foolish,  and  said  so.  He  did 
not  understand  "  nervousness  ; "  what  man  does  ? 
It  is  with  them  but  another  name  for  ill-temper 
and  self  indulgence.  Perhaps  it  is  too  much  so 
with  om-selves.    But  oftentimes  it  becomes  a  real, 


156  THE  COOPEES. 

almost  insurmountable,  because  intangible  evil, 
far  harder  to  cope  with  and  subdue  than  bodily 
pain.  We  can  only  console  ourselves  with  the 
wish  that  they  might  "  try  it  once  " — they  who 
complain  of  a  headache,  brood  over  a  light  in- 
fluenza, and  want  nursing  for  a  sore  throat. 

Taking  silence  for  consent,  Mr.  Cooper,  who 
really  saw  no  good  reason  why  he  should  not  give 
his  friend  the  pleasure  of  having  his  mother  near 
him,  despatched  an  invitation  to  that  effect,  the 
next  morning,  without  further  consultation  ;  and, 
when  Mi's.  Cooper  knew  of  it,  the  matter  was  past 
recall.  She  felt  ashamed  of  her  own  inhospitality 
when  Mr.  Hendei*son  came  out,  the  Saturday  fol- 
lowing, expressly  to  thank  her  for  her  thought- 
fulness,  for  Mr.  Cooper  had  sent  the  message  in 
his  wife's  name  ;  and  that  morning  its  acceptance 
had  arrived.  She  was  punished  with  a  painful 
feeling  of  insincerity  while  listening  to  the  extract 
from  Mrs.  Henderson's  letter,  in  which  her  name 
was  so  kindly  mentioned. 

"  It  is  such  an  unexpected  blessing  seeing  you 
this  fall,  my  dear  son,  that  I  scarcely  know  how 
to   be    sufiiciently   thankful,"    wrote    this    good 


DAILY   TRIALS.  167 

mother.  "  I  know  it  would  be  impossible  for  you 
to  leave  your  business,  or  to  add  the  expense  of 
my  stay  at  your  boarding-house  to  that  of  the 
journey,  should  I  come  to  you.  So  I  had  tried  to 
give  up  this  long-looked-for  happiness  cheerfully ; 
for  you  know  what  your  yeaHy  visits  home  have 
ever  been  to  me  ;  and  now,  when  I  least  expected 
it,  it  is  more  than  made  up  to  me  ;  for  I  shall 
know  these  good  friends  you  write  so  much  about, 
and  especially  Mre.  Cooper,  to  whom  I  have  long 
felt  grateful  for  making  you  so  welcome  in  her 
home.  Tell  her  this,  with  my  ready  acceptance 
of  her  kind  invitation." 

"  There,  didn't  I  tell  you  so  ? "  said  Mr.  Coop- 
er, the  first  moment  they  were  alone  together. 
"  Steve  has  scarcely  been  able  to  attend  to  any 
thing  this  week  until  he  found  out  whether  his 
mother  was  coming.  I  should  think  it  was  a  lady- 
love, instead  of  a  mother,  he  expects.  Brilliant 
idea  of  mine,  wasn't  it  ?  You  'd  better  let  her  get 
these  girls  of  yours  in  order  for  you,  Martha." 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  been  softened  by  tlie  knowl- 
edge that  they  had  made  Mr.  Henderson  and  his 
mother  happy  ;    but  this  suggestion   threw  her 


158  THE   CX)OPEKS. 

back  into  her  original  mood  ;  and  slie  inwardly 
resolved  that,  on  the  contrary,  her  visitor  should 
never  know,  or  suspect  even,  her  inexperience. 

"  Kot  if  I  work  myself  into  a  fever,"  she  said 
to  herself.  "  She  shall  never  know  whether  I 
have  a  kitchen  or  not." 

She  really  meant  to  accomplish  a  miracle  of 
order  and  regularity  by  redoubling  her  own  exer- 
tions. She  forgot  that  both  for  oureelves  and 
others  "  there  is  no  taking  a  leap  in  virtue."  Her 
boy  woke  from  his  first  sleep,  and  cried  fretfully 
as  she  came  to  this  heroic  conclusion. 

"  How  Henderson  does  love  his  mother !  "  said 
Mrs.  Cooper,  as  she  stooped  over  the  crib.  "  Some- 
how, you  don't  often  see  it  in  a  man.  I  wonder 
if  Johnny  will  ever  love  me  so !  I  thought  of  it, 
to-night,  when  he  was  talking." 

The  child  had  been  so  little  with  her  of  late 
that  he  was  getting  beyond  her  control.  ''  Do 
way  ;  me  want  Taty,"  he  said,  pushing  away  the 
glass  of  water  she  held  to  his  lips. 

"  That  doesn't  look  much  like  it,"  Mr.  Cooper 
said,  to  add  to  the  complacent  feeling  with  which 
she  saw  that  he  had  spilled  the  water  over  his 


DAILY   TRIALS.  159 

bed  and  night-dress,  so  that,  tired  as  she  was, 
both  must  be  changed ;  and  when  Mrs.  Cooper 
finally  lay  down  herself,  it  was  with  the  firm 
belief  that  the  trials  of  no  wife  and  mother 
equalled  her  own. 


CHAPTER  yn. 


THE    CRISIS. 


When  the  bongh  breaks,  the  cradle  will  foil — 
Down  comes  baby,  and  cradle,  and  alL 

MoTBEB  Goose. 

Thebe  is  a  crisis  in  every  fever,  a  culmination 
to  all  misfortunes,  a  crowning-point  to  all  mishaps. 
Such  a  day  came  to  Mrs.  Cooper's  housekeeping 
experience. 

There  is  one  beauty  of  living  in  the  country 
which  Mr.  Sparrowgrass  has  forgotten  to  mention, 
and  which  proves  most  conclusively  that  he  has 
never  put  his  hand  to  the  domestic  mill. 

"Afternoons  out"  are  the  dread  and  abhor- 
rence of  every  woman  who  employs  a  female  as- 
sistant, from  the  young  mother  who  is  condemned 
to  a  half  Sunday  of  church-going  from  the  time 
she  is  a  mother,  to  the  mistress  of  a  house  com- 


THE   CRISIS.  161 

pelled  to  pause  in  inviting  guests,  and  think 
"whose  afternoon  it  is."  If  the  cook's,  snpper 
may  be  a  failure  ;  if  the  waiter's,  it  is  impossible  ; 
if  the  chambermaid's,  both  cook  and  waiter  are 
"  out  of  sorts  "  with  the  division  of  duty  and  their 
particular  share.  But  in  the  country  these  holi- 
days extend  themselves.  "  It  isn't  worth  while  to 
pay  a  dollar,  ma'am,  and  not  stay  over  night." 
True ;  the  mistress  agrees,  more  or  less  amiably. 
And  tlien  it  is  so  easy  not  to  know  "  when  the 
train  started,"  to  "  be  hindered  by  the  storm,"  to 
"  get  belated  in  the  omnibus,"  to  "  liave  a  sick 
sister,  or  mother,  or  grandfather."  The  causes  for 
detention  are  as  numerous  as  the  necessities  that 
are  constantly  arising  for  the  trip  itself. 

Mrs.  Cooper  was  aroused  by  the  dreaded  re- 
quest, "  Could  you  spare  me  the  day,  ma'am  ? " 
from  reading  a  long  and  sympathizing  letter  in 
Lizzie  Grant's  lady-like  hand-writing,  which  she 
was  just  preparing  to  answer.  Her  writing  mate- 
rials were  laid  out.  A  fresh  quire  of  delicate 
paper,  a  new  pen,  her  favorite  inkstand  and  port- 
folio  occupied  the  deep  window-seat.     She  felt 


162  THE    COOPERS. 

that  she  should  enjoy  her  chat;  she  was  just  in 
the  mood  for  letter-writing. 

"  To-day  !  "  Mi*s.  Cooper  echoed  the  request 
with  a  startled  confusion  of  ideas.  "  What  day 
is  it?" 

"  Friday,  ma'am  ;  an'  Johnny 's  asleep." 

"  How  long  do  you  want  to  be  gone,  Kate  ? " 

"  Me  sister  is  in,  tliat  I  haven't  seen  in  five 
years,  ma'am ;  an'  me  cousin 's  come  wid  her ;  an' 
I've  the  makin'  of  a  driss  to  buy,  an'  some  shoes; 
an'  a  boy  from  our  place  — " 

"  Pray,  don't  be  so  long  !  "  said  Mrs.  Cooper, 
impatiently.  "  Do  you  want  to  stay  till  the  last 
train  ? " 

"  Till  the  first  train,  if  it 's  all  the  same, 
ma'am." 

"  The  first  train  ? " 

"  Monday  momin'." 

"  "What  !  all  day  to-morrow  and  Sunday  ? 
No  ;  I  can't  spare  you  so  long,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper, 
decidedly. 

The  girl  was  evidently  bent  on  her  plan. 

"  I  hurried  an'  done  the  cleanin',  ma'am,  all 
the  rooms  up  stairs,  an'  washed  the  windies.   Cook 


THE   CEI8I8.  168 

Bays  she  '11  see  to  Master  Johnny,  for  she 's  over 
wid  the  heaviest  until  wash-day  ;  an'  thin  it 's  the 
first  train  I  '11  be  out  in." 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  noticed  and  commended  her 
unusual  activity  but  an  hour  before.  It  was  one 
thing  which  contributed  to  the  cheerful  mood  in 
which  she  proposed  to  herself  the  pleasant  task 
of  letter-writing  instead  of  the  basketful  of  mend- 
ing, which  made  its  appearance  as  regular  as  the 
fish  on  Friday. 

"  Katy  is  certainly  improving,"  she  said  to  her- 
self. "  I  always  thought  she  could  find  more  time 
if  she  chose  to."  And  now  it  was  very  provoking 
to  discover  that  self-interest  lay  at  the  root  of  the 
matter.  It  was  an  unlucky  argument  for  Kate's 
cause. 

"  Sure  you  said  I  could  go  the  next  time,"  mut- 
tered the  girl,  retreating  sullenly  from  a  second 
and  still  more  irritable  denial. 

Mi"8.  Cooper  took  up  her  pen,  endeavored  to 
soothe  her  ruffled  spirits,  and  wrote  "Dearest 
Lizzie  "  in  a  very  determined  manner  ;  but  Kate's 
last  shot  had  told.  There  was  no  denying  the 
promise  ;  for  Mrs.  Cooper,  feeling  particularly  un- 


164  THE  00OPEE8. 

equal  to  the  care  of  Johnny,  the  last  time  she  had 
applied  for  leave  of  absence,  bought  her  off  with 
the  promise  of  going  next  time,  and  staying  long- 
er when  she  did  go.  How  she  wished  now  that 
she  had  not  put  off  the  evil  day  !  for  it  was  almost 
time  for  Mrs.  Henderson's  expected  visit ;  and 
then  she  could  not  be  spared  under  any  press  of 
circumstances.  It  was  the  last  opportunity.  Mrs. 
Henderson  had  not  been  able  to  say  exactly  when 
she  would  leave,  as  it  depended  upon  her  escort, 
a  friend  with  whom  she  was  to  travel,  but  by  the 
last  of  the  next  week  certainly. 

Katy  must  go. 

Mrs.  Cooper  forced  herself  to  the  conclusion 
veiy  unwillingly.  Johnny  had  taken  cold,  as  he 
always  did  when  "  any  thing  in  particular  "  was 
going  on.  They  had  not  considered  him  a  delicate 
child,  nor  was  he  so  naturally,  if  he  had  been  left 
to  himself;  but,  nursed  so  constantly,  he  felt  the 
least  neglect,  and  suffered  from  it.  So  his  cough, 
and  the  slight  fever  with  it — all  of  which  his 
father  set  down  under  the  general  head  of  "  teeth- 
ing " — ^had  kept  her  awake  more  than  usual  for 
several    nights.       "  Johnny   was    asleep,"    Kate 


THE   CRISIS.  Iftil 

said.     "  If  he  would  only  sleep  till  Monday  morn- 


ing 


r" 


Mrs.  Cooper  went  up  stairs  to  give  the  desired 
permission,  in  much  the  same  frame  of  mind  as 
if  she  had  sentenced  herself  to  six  months  in  a 
penitentiary.  She  dreaded  to  undertake  Johnny. 
His  bath,  his  food,  his  toilet  had  of  late  been 
trusted  entirely  to  his  nurse.  He  would  be  sure 
to  look  like  a  fright,  for  she  never  had  been  suc- 
cessful in  soap  and  water  curls ;  and  he  had  be- 
come so  refractory  of  late  that  it  needed  an  ex- 
hausting amount  of  coaxing,  singing,  and  Mother 
Goosing  generally  to  get  him  comfortably  through 
the  operation.  Kor  was  Master  Johnny  so  much 
to  be  blamed,  by  an  impartial  observer,  in  declin- 
ing to  sit  up  for  two  hours  a  day  with  a  wet  towel 
pinned  tight  around  his  neck,  soapsuds  dripping 
in  his  eyes,  and  admonished  to  "kape  still,"  or 
"  howld  his  head  around,"  every  attempt  he  made 
at  amusing  himself.  No  wonder  that  Johnny  had 
colds. 

It  was  not  until  the  next  morning  that  Mrs. 
Cooper  fully  realized  what  she  had  undertaken. 
The  blessed  morning  nap,  to  which  the  mother  is 


166  THE  COOPERS. 

as  much  entitled  as  the  carver  to  his  ten  minutes' 
grace,  was  usually  secured  by  Kate's  removal  of 
the  young  gentleman,  who,  of  course,  was  broad 
awake  with  the  first  streak  of  daylight.  Mrs. 
Cooper  roused  herself  sufficiently  to  prop  him  up 
securely  in  his  crib,  and  presented  him  her  slip- 
pers for  playthings.  Lapsing  softly  into  dream- 
land, a  tolerably  heavy  blow  from  one  of  them 
roused  her  again.  He  had  finished  the  slippers  to 
his  own  satisfaction,  pulling  the  bow  off  of  one, 
and  sucking  the  cheriy-colored  embroidery  of  the 
other.  Fortunately,  his  mamma  was  too  sleepy  to 
realize  the  mischief;  and,  reaching  towards  the 
dressing-table,  she  tossed  him  a  brush  and  comb, 
a  half-empty  cologne  bottle,  and  an  extinguisher. 
Five  minutes  of  quiet,  two  of  delightful  uncon- 
sciousness on  his  mother's  part,  was  broken  in 
upon  by  a  wilful  cry  of  "  More  !  more  !  "  from  the 
insatiable  juvenile,  tugging  a  nightcap  string, 
and  the  half-asleep  exclamation  from  his  papa — 
"  CarCt  you  stop  that  child's  noise,  Matty  ?  What 
is  to  pay  ?  "Why  don't  you  wake  up  and  attend 
to  him  ? " 

"  Why  don't  you  ? "  was  the  quick  mental  re- 


THE   CRISIS.  t^ 

tort.  "  1  have  been  fussing  this  hour  with  him. 
There,  Johnny,  you  tiresome  child.  Oh,  dear  !  I 
declare,  if  he  hasn't  upset  my  fine  German  cologne 
all  on  this  counterpane  !  It  has  taken  the  color 
out ;  it  is  ruined." 

"  And  cut  his  mouth  with  the  bottle  into  the 
bargain.  His  face  is  covered  with  blood  !  Good 
fathers,  Martha,  how  could  you  give  it  to  him  ? " 

Mr.  Cooper,  thoroughly  roused,  sprang  up,  and 
snatched  Johnny  from  the  crib.  His  wife,  who 
saw  the  unharmed  flask  lying  on  the  floor,  com- 
prehended the  cause  of  the  red  stains  at  once  ; 
and  her  happiness  and  amiability  were  not  in- 
creased at  finding  her  new  slippers  hopelessly  de- 
faced. It  was  a  bad  beginning  for  a  busy  day. 
The  only  hope  was  that  Johnny  would  take  an 
unusually  long  nap  to  make  amends  for  his  morn- 
ing sleeplessness.  But  this  he  did  not  incline  to 
do.  Tired  out  with  bathing  and  dressing  him, 
there  was  the  chamberwork  to  be  done,  with  the 
boy  to  amuse  at  the  same  time ;  and,  exhausted 
with  her  morning's  exertions,  and  the  unusual 
heat  of  the  day,  which  seemed  like  a  fervid  back- 
ward glance  of  the  departed  summer,  Mrs.  Cooper 


168  THE   COOPEES. 

took  him  in  her  arms,  and  descended  to  the  kitchen 
in  the  hope  of  finding  Tiny  almost  through,  and 
ready  to  amuse  him,  while  she  tried  to  rest. 

But  Tiny's  dominions,  never  famous  for  their 
order,  seemed  in  unusual  confusion.  The  clock 
pointed  to  twelve ;  but  the  breakfast  dishes  still 
stood  piled  up  on  one  table,  the  silver  soaking  in 
cold  suds  in  the  cedar  tub,  vegetables  partially 
prepared  for  soup,  apples  half  peeled  for  pies, 
with  a  knife  standing  upright,  and  blackening  in 
each  pan,  flour  sifted  for  the  paste,  butter  melting 
in  the  heat  instead  of  hardening  on  the  ice  as  it 
should  have  been.  Friday's  extra  wash  of  towels 
and  aprons,  covered  with  a  swarm  of  flies,  on  the 
clothes'-horse,  and  an  unswept  floor,  completed 
the  dreary  picture.  Tiny  hei*self  was  the  dreariest 
object  of  all.  Never  before  had  Mrs.  Cooper 
seen  any  thing  but  a  smile  on  her  face  in  the 
busiest  or  most  burdened  moment.  Now  she  was 
sitting  quite  still,  her  head  bent  down  on  her 
folded  arms,  lying  in  an  attitude  of  discourage- 
ment and  helplessness  on  the  table.  A  small 
woollen  shawl  was  tied  around  her,  warm  as  the 


THE   CKISI8.  169 

day  had  proved ;  and  her  arms  were  wrapped  in 
her  check  apron. 

The  reprimand  died  on  ]Mrs.  Coopei^'s  lips. 
She  was  really  alarmed. 

"  Are  you  sick,  Tiny  ?     "What  is  the  matter  ?  " 
The  girl  lifted  up  her  face  with  a  blank  ex- 
pression. 

"  Yes  ;  it 's  me  head.     It  feels  quarely." 
"  Have  you  been  sick  long  ?     Were  you  sick 
yesterday  when  Katy  went  away  ? " 

A  sudden  recollection  of  her  unfortunate  posi- 
tion, if  Tiny  should  prove  seriously  ill,  in  Kate's 
absence,  made  Mrs.  Cooper  all  ready  to  feel  ag- 
grieved if  the  answer  was  affirmative. 

"  No,  ma'am ;  it  was  the  mornin'  I  took  it,  wid 
feelin'  wake  an'  quare-like." 

"  Isn't  there  any  thing  you  can  take  ?  Did  yon 
ever  feel  so  before  ?  " 

"  Sure  I  don't  know,  ma'am." 

"  Perhaps  you  had  better  lie  do\vn." 

Mrs.  Cooper  faltered  as  if  she  were  suggesting 

a  bastinado  for  herself.     Her  arms  ached  already 

with  holding  Johnny ;  and  she  felt  as  if  she  could 

scarcely  keep  up  herself,  much  less  amuse  him, 


170  THE  COOPERS. 

and  attempt  to  reduce  the  mountain  of  work  be- 
fore her.  It  was  a  great  relief  that,  instead  of 
accepting  the  proposition,  Tiny  stood  up,  and  pro- 
fessed herself  feeling  a  little  better,  and  ready  to 
return  to  her  manifold  tasks.  It  was  a  peculiarity 
of  the  unmethodical  Tiny  to  get  "  all  her  irons  in 
the  fire  "  at  once,  and  give  each  a  rub,  so  to  speak, 
in  turn. 

But  it  was  a  short  relief.  Half  an  hour  after, 
the  girl  fairly  gave  out ;  and  Mrs,  Cooper  saw  that 
it  was  useless  for  her  to  attempt  keeping  up  any 
longer.  Her  pulse  was  quick  and  hard  ;  her  face 
flushed  with  fever.  The  only  hope  was  that  a 
sleep  might  benefit  her.     She  thought  it  would. 

Mrs.  Cooper's  first  attempt  was  to  induce 
Johnny  to  try  the  same  experiment ;  but  for  two 
hours  he  obstinately  resisted  all  inducements. 
The  bed,  the  crib,  the  rocking-chair,  were  tried  in 
turn ;  the  blandishments  of  future  sugar-plums 
when  lie  woke,  the  soothing  melody  of  "  hush,  my 
dear,"  were  tried  in  vain.  Johnny  missed  his 
Katy,  and  her  invariable  "  Nelly  Bly."  He  could 
not  go  to  sleep  on  any  other  tune.  Novelty  did 
not  agree  with  him.     But  at  length  exhaustion 


THE   CRISIS. 

prevailed  where  coaxing  could  not ;  and  Mrs. 
Cooper  was  free  to  commence  her  operations 
below  stairs. 

It  was  a  depressing  survey.  The  chickens  had 
taken  advantage  of  Tiny's  absence  to  transform 
the  kitchen  into  a  Central  Park  for  their  after- 
noon promenade,  pecking  at  the  apples  and  pota- 
toes by  way  of  refreshments.  The  hour  hand  of 
the  clock  had  advanced  from  twelve  to  three  ; 
the  sun  shone  fiercely  in  at  the  windows  ;  and  the 
fire  had  taken  its  departure  for  lack  of  fuel. 

She  had  seen  Tiny  clear  out  the  cinders  and 
ashes  with  her  hands.  She  looked  at  her  own  in 
dismay.  Mrs.  Cooper's  one  weakness  was  her 
hands.  Tlie  kindlings  were  in  the  cellar  ;  so  was 
the  coal ;  and  the  hod  was  empty.  She  turned  to 
the  loaded  table,  the  littered  chairs.  Literally, 
she  did  not  know  where  to  begin. 

«  Oh,  Murray  !  " 

The  sigh  of  relief  came  from  the  bottom  of  her 
heart  as  she  heard  the  gate  click,  and  saw  her 
husband  coming  up  the  path  with  his  usual  assort- 
ment of  Saturday  parcels  under  his'  arm.  He 
often  took  half  holiday,  school-boy  fashion,  and 


172  THE   COOPEK8. 

came  up  in  the  early  train,  leaving  Mr.  Hender- 
son to  do  double  duty,  and  satisfying  himself  with 
the  demands  of  the  garden  upon  his  time.  He 
had  never  received  such  an  energetic  welcome 
before,  for  Mrs.  Cooper  rather  dreaded  his  busy 
days  at  home.  It  was  "  Martha,  where's  the  ham- 
mer ? "  "  Can  you  get  me  some  twine  as  well  as 
not  ? "  "  Just  run  up  and  look  in  the  left  pocket 
of  my  gray  coat,  and  see  if  my  garden  knife  is 
there,"  every  five  minutes.  She  always  resigned 
herself  to  a  series  of  these  and  similar  interrup- 
tions to  the  business  of  the  day,  one  of  which  was 
an  urgent  invitation  to  "just  come  out  a  minute, 
and  see  how  that  great  squash  has  grown  the  last 
two  days  ; "  or,  "  don't  you  want  to  hold  the  string 
for  me  while  I  tie  up  those  tomatoes  ? " 

It  was  Mr.  Cooper's  turn  to  be  pressed  into 
service  now;  and  very  useful  and  consoling  he 
made  himself. 

"  Never  mind  bothering  about  the  dinner, 
if  that's  all.  Any  thing  will  do  for  me.  I'll 
fix  it.  Oysters,  Matty."  And  he  held  up  a  little 
tin  can.  "  Was  n't  it  lucky  ?  the  first  of  the  sea- 
son.    And  I  thought  they'd  taste  a  great  deal 


THE   CRISIS.  173 

nicer  here  at  home.  I'm  splendid  at  an  oyster 
stew.  Here,  you  just  empty  np  these  pans.  I'll 
make  that  fire.  We  '11  have  our  dinner  and  sup- 
per together,  right  off;  and  then  you  can  have 
the  afternoon  to  put  things  to  rights  in." 

Mrs.  Cooper  went  to  the  dining-room  to  lay 
the  table  ;  but  even  this,  simple  as  it  seemed,  was 
more  of  a  task  than  she  counted  on.  The  "  salts  " 
were  to  be  filled,  the  knives  had  not  been  cleaned 
since  breakfast,  she  did  not  know  where  half  the 
things  were  kept,  and  lost  time  in  hunting  for 
them.  She  had  no  idea,  before,  how  many  steps 
lay  between  the  china-closet  and  the  dining-room ; 
and,  of  course,  Johnny  woke  up  in  the  midst  of  it. 

Mr.  Cooper  was  in  his  element.  He  was  help- 
ing his  wife;  he  was  experimenting  as  to  how 
things  ought  to  be  done  ;  he  was  enjoying  a  favor- 
ite supper  dish  in  advance,  as  the  fire  burned  up 
freshly,  and  a  savory  odor  streamed  from  the 
saucepan  he  so  carefully  tended. 

Mrs.  Cooper  acknowledged  the  stew  was  deli- 
cious ;  but  she  was  so  tired  and  worried  that  she 
could  not  do  more  than  taste  it,  much  to  her  hus- 
band's disappointment.    Johnny's  busy  little  hands 


174  THE    CK)0PEK8. 

fished  for  bits  of  cracker  as  she  held  him  before 
her  on  her  lap  ;  and,  taking  advantage  of  what  he 
scarcely  comprehended,  growing  bolder,  he  upset 
the  salt,  and  made  dangerous  passes  at  the  water- 
goblet,  fork,  knife — in  short,  every  thing  within 
reach  of  his  mother's  plate. 

"I'll  tell  you,"  said  his  father,  after  one  of 
these  lively  sallies  on  Johnny's  part ;  "  set  him  up 
in  his  high  chair,  and  let  him  feed  himself.  Give 
him  some  of  the  soup  on  some  cracker  in  a  saucer 
of  his  own.  Jolmny,  want  to  sit  up,  like  a  little 
man,  by  papa  ?     Well,  Johnny  shall." 

"  But  he  'b  never  tried  to  feed  himself  in  the 
least,  Murray,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  with  an  appre- 
hension of  fresh  disasters. 

"  Oh,  let  him  try !  He 's  old  enough." 
"  He  '11  slop  himself  from  head  to  foot." 
Nevertheless,  Mrs.  Cooper  yielded  up  her 
charge  not  unwillingly,  and  began  to  rub  the 
weary  arm  that  had  been  around  him.  She 
agreed  to  his  father's  opinion  that  he  could  not 
look  much  worse  than  he  did  ;  but  Johnny's  sub- 
sequent appearance  proved  to  the  contrary.  He 
had  managed  not  only  to  "  slop  "  his  clothes,  but 


THE   CRISIS.  175 

to  besmear  face,  eyes,  and  his  long  uncurled  hair 
in  the  most  liberal  manner. 

Mr.  Cooper  undertook  the  child's  toilet,  and  to 
carry  him  off  awhile.  Mrs.  Cooper,  in  the  mean 
time,  paid  a  visit  to  Tiny  in  the  hope  of  finding 
her  able  at  least  to  clear  away  their  informal 
meal. 

But,  alas  !  Tiny  lay  moaning  and  tossing  in 
such  a  fever  as  Mrs.  Cooper  had  never  before 
seen  ;  and  her  answers  were  so  incoherent  that, 
in  alarm,  Johnny  and  his  father  were  dispatched 
immediately  for  the  physician. 

"Oh,  Murray!  what  shall  I  do  ?  I  don't 
know  any  thing  about  sickness  ;  and  we  can't  get 
at  Katy  in  any  way  before  Monday  morning ;  and 
the  house  in  such  a  state  !  I  'm  so  tired,  I  could 
cry." 

Mrs.  Cooper  fairly  wrung  her  hands  ;  and  her 
husband  acknowledged  that  it  was  a  very  hard 
case. 

"  Is  n't  there  any  washerwoman  or  somebody 
in  the  village  you  could  get  for  a  day  or  two  ? 
Suppose  I  ask  the  doctor." 

"  Men  never  know  about  such   things.     Oh, 


IW  THE   COOPEES. 

dear  I  I  wish  I  was  intimate  enough  with  any 
one  in  the  neighborhood  to  ask  them." 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  herself,  together  with  her 
husband's  disinclination  to  visiting,  to  thank  that 
she  was  not.  Tlie  true,  social,  good  feeling  of  a 
country  neighborhood  was,  as  yet,  beyond  her 
comprehension. 

The  doctor  was  out ;  but  he  would  be  in  before 
dark,  and  come  round  directly.  Mr.  Cooper  evi- 
dently had  something  else  on  his  mind  besides 
this  message  when  he  returned.  Mrs.  Cooper 
looked  towards  the  window,  following  liis  slyly 
uneasy  glance.  A  light  trolling  wagon,  with  a 
pair  of  fine  gray  hoi-ses,  stood  under  the  great 
walnut-tree.  A  gentleman,  in  a  plaid  "  cut- 
awa}'^,"  leaned  forward,  touching  the  flies  that  set- 
tled on  the  fine  creatures,  aiming  scientifically 
with  the  extreme  tip  of  his  long  whip-lash. 

"  It 's  Sam.  1  happened  to  meet  him  on  my 
way  home.  He 's  brought  his  horses  up,  and  is 
staying  over  Sunday  at  Tarrytown.  I  would  n't 
ask  him  in,  you  see,  knowing  what  a  fix  you  were 
in." 

"  I  '11  take  Johnny,  then,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper, 


THE   CRISIS.  177 

amiably,  considering  her  antipathy  for  Mr.  Blodget, 
and  the  state  of  the  case  generally. 

"  I  guess  he  '11  go  to  bed  pretty  soon.  He 
seems  tired  and  sleepy.  I  won't  be  gone  long ; 
that  is,  Sam  wants  me  to  see  that  off  horse  in 
harness  ;  it 's  a  new  one ;  and  it 's  such  a  splendid 
evening.  Is  there  any  thing  more  I  can  do  for 
you,  Matty,  before  I  go  ? " 

Mr.  Cooper  did  not  feel  altogether  at  ease  as 
he  bowled  away  over  the  smooth  hard  road,  and 
thought  of  his  wife's  despairing  negative  to  his 
last  question. 

'•  She  said  I  could  n't  help  her,"  he  reflected, 
by  way  of  easing  his  conscience  ;  "  and  that  she 
knew  I  had  so  few  opportunities  for  a  drive. 
That 's  a  fact ;  I  've  given  up  a  great  deal ;  and  I 
don't  know  what  she  would  have  done  without 
me,  if  I  hadn't  happened  to  come  home  this 
afternoon.  She  was  foolish  to  let  that  girl  go. 
Jehu !  "  And  the  original  Murray  Cooper  in  his 
fast  days  roused  up,  as  the  horse  began  to  display 
its  points.  "  A  stunner,  is  n't  she  ?  Perfect  Lady 
Gay  Spanker  !     That  ought  to  be  her  name  !  " 

It  was  almost  dark  before  the  Doctor  arrived. 
8* 


178  THE  COOPERS, 

Mrs.  Cooper  could  only  hold  Johnny  and  watch 
for  him  from  the  dining-room  window.  She  could 
hear  Tiny  toss  and  moan  overhead,  and  Johnny 
coughed  harder  than  ever,  from  having  been  car- 
ried out  by  his  father  without  his  sack,  she 
thought.  It  was  a  relief  when  she  recognized  the 
physician,  who  had  called  upon  her  with  his  wife, 
coming  towards  the  house. 

"  Not  the  boy,  I  hope,"  he  said,  pleasantly,  as 
she  went  to  the  door  to  meet  him. 

"  Oh,  no  !  "  And  she  ushered  him  up  to  his 
patient's  room,  and  walked  her  own  wearily,  with 
Johnny  lying  over  her  shoulder,  screaming  and 
coughing  alternately ;  he  had  arrived  at  that  in- 
teresting period,  "  being  afraid  of  strangers  ; "  and 
the  Doctor's  good-natured  advances,  at  making 
his  acquaintance,  had  set  him  oif  afresh. 

"  Don't,  Johnny  ;  don't,  mamma's  little  man ; 
there,  there !  Oh,  if  Murray  would  only  come 
home  !  Oh,  how  he  coughs  I  "  groaned  Mrs. 
Cooper. 

It  was  quite  dark  as  the  Doctor  made  his  ap- 
pearance at  the  door  of  her  room. 

"  Pretty  sick  ! — pretty  high  fever  ! — will  make 


THE   CRISIS.  179 

it  all  right,  though  !  Now,  if  you  will  give  me  a 
light,  Mrs.  Cooper." 

A  light !  It  flashed  into  her  mind  that  the 
lamps  were  not  trimmed ;  and  there  was  not  a 
candle  in  the  house  ! 

"  Won't  he  come  to  me  ? "  said  the  Doctor,  as 
she  stood  still  in  her  forced  promenade.  But 
Johnny  declined,  as  he  did  having  his  mother  sit 
down,  with  the  most  violent  screams  of  combined 
fatigue  and  terror ;  which  brought  on  a  renewed 
attack  of  coughing,  almost  strangulation. 

"  I  'm  afraid  I  can't  get  you  one." 

"  Oh,  never  mind,  it 's  not  of  the  least  conse- 
quence ;  I  shall  do  very  well  by  the  window." 
And  the  Doctor,  scarcely  able  to  distinguish  rhu- 
barb from  ipecac,  took  out  his  pocket-case  of 
remedies.  "  A  bit  of  paper,  if  you  please  !  This 
powder  immediately,  and  here,  I  will  prepare  two 
more,  to  be  given  an  liour  apart ;  and  then  I  will 
send  some  pills  to  be  taken  every  two  hours 
through  the  night,  after  the  fever  breaks ;  and 
don't  let  her  exert  herself  for  two  or  three  days  ; 
she 's  got  a  tremendous  constitution,  and  the  chill 
must  have  been  pretty  heavy." 


180  THE    COOPEES. 

"The  chill!" 

"  Yes ;  it 's  a  pretty  bad  case  of  chills  and 
fever.  It's  about  as  hard  as  any  that's  come 
under  my  notice  this  year." 

"  But  is  there  ague  here,  Doctor  ? "  Mrs. 
Cooper  felt  her  heart  sink  within  her.  This  was 
the  terrible  scourge  of  the  country  then,  that  she 
dreaded  scarcely  less  than  cholera. 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  oh,  yes  ;  sometimes  arising  here, 
and  sometimes  brought  from  the  city.  A  little  of 
it,  at  times.  I  dare  say  she 's  been  careless  and 
exposed  herself,"  said  the  Doctor,  straining  his 
eyes  in  the  thick  darkness  that  settled  down  upon 
them.  "  Let  your  other  girl  give  her  one  of  these 
every  hour. 

"  But  she 's  gone  to  town  ;  I  'm  quite  alone," 
explained  Mrs.  Cooper. 

"  Ah,  that 's  unfortunate  !  I  thought  it  best 
to  give  very  active  remedies  ;  and  she  ought  not 
to  get  about  for  several  days.  How  long  has  your 
little  boy  had  his  cough  ?  You  know  it  is  whoop- 
ing-cough, I  suppose  ? " 

Mrs.  Cooper  felt  stunned !  She  followed  the 
doctor  to  the  door,  mechanically,  trying  to  com- 


THE   OK18I8.  181 

preliend  his  directions  for  Tiny's  medicines,  and 
the  soothing  mixture  he  was  to  send  over  for 
Johnny. 

"  The  whooping-cough  !  A  six  months'  trial ! 
Chills  and  fever  !     What  next  ? " 

She  had  scarcely  asked  herself  the  question, 
when  a  roll  of  wheels  sounded  along  the  smooth 
hard  road,  and  ceased  before  the  house.  Her 
husband  at  last ;  and  he  would  hold  Johnny  while 
she  got  a  light.  She  hurried  into  the  hall,  and 
fairly  threw  herself  into  his  arms,  ready  to  pour 
out  her  dismal  history.  But  no  ! — it  was  Mr.  Hen- 
derson— and  she  regained  her  equilibrium  to  find 
him  trying  to  introduce  his  mother  in  the  dark, 
and  to  explain  that  she  had  arrived  unexpectedly 
after  Mr.  Cooper  left,  and  so  he  had  brought  her 
out  himself  in  the  last  train  ! 

There  was  but  one  orderly  room  in  the  house, 
the  parlor,  and  thither  she  led  the  way  ;  bethink- 
ing herself,  in  the  emergency,  of  a  solitary  candle, 
which  had  been  used  to  light  a  porcelain  trans- 
parency, and  a  box  of  matches  which  Mr.  Coop- 
er's peculiar  notions  of  convenience  had  installed 
behind  a  picture  on  the  mantle  where  it  stood. 


182  THE   COOPEKS. 

Mr.  Henderson,  familiar  with  the  premises,  and 
entirely  unconscious  of  the  position  of  household 
affairs,  seated  his  mother  on  a  lounge,  and  hurried 
to  her  assistance. 

The  light  fell  on  her  disordered  dress — on 
Johnny,  worse  than  unpresentable.  She  thought 
of  the  kitchen  that  was  to  have  been  so  neat,  of 
the  table  still  standing,  and  nothing  to  offer  her 
guests,  of  the  unprepared  chambers,  of  the  help- 
less, suffering  Tiny  ;  all  rushed  to  her  mind,  as  it 
is  said  a  lifetime  is  compressed  into  the  last 
moment  of  consciousness  to  a  drowning  man ! 
She  began  an  apology,  but  her  voice  failed,  and 
she  could  only  sink  into  an  easy  chair,  bend  her 
head  down  on  Johnny's  shoulder,  and  fairly  sob 
aloud. 

Mr.  Henderson  stood  confounded,  and  no  won- 
der. His  mother's  quick  comprehension  took  in 
something  more  of  Mrs.  Cooper's  hysteric  burst, 
especially  as  she  recognized  the  dreaded  explosive 
gasp  in  Johnny's  renewed  cough. 

J'  Never  mind,  my  dear ;  we  shall  do  very 
well.  There,  there,"  she  added,  crossing  the 
room,  and  patting  her  shoulder  as  she  would  have 


THE   CRISIS.  183 

soothed  a  child.  "I  was  afraid  we  should  in- 
terfere with  your  arrangements,  but  Stephen 
thought  not.  You  must  let  us  take  care  of  our- 
selves." 

The  effect  of  the  touch  and  kindly  tone  was 
indescribable.  Mrs.  Cooper  could  not  remember 
her  mother ;  but,  as  she  looked  up  into  those 
friendly  soft  brown  eyes,  she  felt  that  she  could 
trust  Mrs.  Henderson  as  if  she  stood  in  that  most 
comforting  of  all  relations.  Even  Johnny  seemed 
under  tlie  same  kindly  spell,  and  went  to  her  out- 
stretched arms  as  if  it  had  been  Katy  herself, 
after  a  moment  or  two  of  very  contradictory  emo- 
tions, which  were  plainly  visible  in  his  rapidly 
changing  face. 

Mrs.  Cooper  thought  of  her  resolution  that 
Mrs.  Henderson  should  never  know  "whether 
she  had  a  kitchen  or  not,"  an  hour  later,  as  her 
guest  stood  in  the  midst  of  its  disorder,  reducing 
it  to  respectability  with  her  own  hands,  dis- 
playing a  readiness  and  ease  that  were  mar- 
vellous to  Mrs.  Cooper,  as  she  worked  under  her 
direction" 


184  THE   COOPERS. 

"  So  much  for  pride  and  obstinacy,"  she 
thought ;  but  the  acknowledgment  was  to  hereelf 
mentally.  "  Strictly  private  and  confidential,"  as 
her  husband  would  have  said. 


f^f 


CHAPTEK  Vm. 

A  mother's  wages. 

"Take  this  cliild  away,  and  nurse  it  for  me ;  and  /  will  give  thee  thy 
wages." 

Mbs.  Cooper's  own  room  was  partially  dark- 
ened. September  had  deepened  into  brown  Oc- 
tober ;  the  foliage  was  fluttering  softly  to  the 
lawn,  which  was  still  green  and  bright  as  velvet ; 
while  the  borders  were  gay  with  a  few  late  roses 
and  cheerful  chrysanthemums  of  every  color. 
The  sun,  at  mid-day,  streamed  through  the  branch- 
es now  thinned  from  the  summer  luxuriance  of 
their  foliage  ;  and,  as  we  have  said,  the  curtains 
were  drawn  to  exclude  them. 

A  wood  fire,  made  necessary  by  the  coolness 
of  the  early  morning,  was  dying  out  in  red  and 
still  glowing  embers  upon  the  hearth.  Tlie  scru- 
pulous neatness  of  every  thing  in  the  arrangement 


186  THE   COOPERS. 

of  the  room  was  especially  grateful  to  the  occu- 
pant of  the  nicely  made  bed  with  its  fresh  linen 
and  exactly  folded  counterpane.  Mrs.  Cooper 
was  an  invalid,  the  mother  of  a  little  girl,  John- 
ny's little  sister ;  and  her  white  face,  as  it  turned 
languidly  to  the  pillow,  had  an  expression  of 
thankful  rest  that  it  had  not  worn  for  many  a  day. 
The  frail  little  creature,  whose  unexpected  ad- 
vent had  changed  the  unwelcome  guest  into  the 
faithful  nurse  and  friend,  now  began  to  gather 
strength  daily,  and  promised  to  overcome  the 
threatened  dangere  that  made  its  life  seem  at  first 
but  a  fluttering,  transient  breath.  It  was  Mrs. 
Henderson's  watchfulness  and  care,  the  good  phy- 
sician said,  to  which  Mr.  Cooper  owed  the  safety 
of  both  wife  and  child  ;  and  his  gratitude  was  un- 
bounded. Under  ordinary  circumstances,  she 
might  have  departed  as  she  had  come,  a  genial, 
useful,  pleasant  guest ;  but  this  had  made  them 
friends  for  life,  and  established  an  almost  mater- 
nal influence  over  both  the  young  people ;  towards 
whom  her  heart  was  warmed,  even  before  she  had 
seen  them,  for  her  son's  sake. 
!«(»  Mrs.  Hendei'son  sat  before  the  fire,  in  alow 


A.  mother's  wages.  187 

chair,  with  the  little  one,  in  its  soft  flannel  wrap- 
pers, lying  in  her  lap.  She  had  jnst  bathed  and 
dressed  it  for  the  day ;  while  Mrs.  Cooper  lay 
watching  her  silently,  and  envying  the  ease  and 
skill  with  which  her  difficult  task  was  accom- 
plished, and  the  pleasure  she  seemed  to  take  in  it. 
Then  her  eyes  wandered  to  the  neat  gingham 
morning-dress  and  apron,  the  snow-white  linen 
collar  pinned  so  exactly  at  the  throat,  the  silver- 
thridded  hair  smoothed  back  from  her  low,  broad 
forehead,  and  the  soft  brown  eyes  bent  upon  the 
child  as  tenderly  as  if  it  had  been  her  own.  The 
whole  face  spoke  of  a  peaceful  cheerfulness  Mrs. 
Cooper  envied,  but  could  not  understand,  when 
she  remembered  the  many  trials  and  hardships  of 
Mrs.  Henderson's  early  life,  and  the  straitened 
circumstances  in  which  she  was  still  placed,  de- 
pendent chiefly  upon  her  son's  exertions  and  gen- 
erosity. She  exercised  the  same  influence  over 
her,  and  had  done  ever  since  her  arrival ;  yet  not 
by  counsel — example,  rather. 

"  What  should  we  have  done  without  her  ? " 
she  thought  for  the  one  hundredth  time.  "  How 
much   I   have   to   be  thankful   for !     How  kind 


tSB  THE   000PEE8. 

Murray  is !  "  Her  eyes  rested  on  the  vase  of 
rosebuds  and  faintly  odorous  heliotrope  he  had 
gathered,  and  placed  on  the  little  round  table,  by 
her  bedside,  the  evening  before.  "  And  Johnny 
is  so  lonely,  I  hope  he  will  be  fond  of  his  sister. 
Two  dear  children  !  "  And  a  new  mother-love, 
her  boy  had  failed  to  call  forth,  first  born  as  he 
was,  rose  up  in  her  heart. 

"Do  you  think  I  am  well  enough  to  have 
Johnny  here  a  little  while  ? "  she  asked,  in  a 
voice  so  low  that  it  told  of  the  extreme  weakness 
from  which  she  still  suffered. 

Mrs.  Henderson  looked  up,  as  if  from  some 
pleasant  reverie. 

"  If  you  wish  it,  certainly,  I  have  only  been 
afraid  of  your  head.  We  can  have  a  little  visitor 
daily  now ;  and  it  will  do  you  both  good.  I  do 
not  think  there  is  any  danger  from  the  cough." 

"  Is  baby  asleep  ?  He  might  wake  her." 
And  a  shadow,  the  old  anxious,  weary  look,  came 
over  the  invalid's  face  as  she  thought :  "  How  am 
I  to  manage  with  two  children  ?  " 

"  Oh,  there 's  no  fear  of  that !  A  baby  at  this 
age  doesn't  wake  so  easily.     Children,  if  they  are 


A  mother's  wages.  189 

well,  sleep  tlie  first  three  months  of  their  lives 
with  very  little  consideration  of  what  is  going  on 
around  them.  By  that  time,  Johnny  will  be  quite 
a  little  man  ;  and  you  can  teach  him  that  he  is  to 
have  quiet  plays  while  his  sister  takes  her  naps." 

Mrs.  Henderson  laid  the  baby  down,  and  folded 
the  crib  blanket  warmly  but  lightly  over  her. 
"  What  helpless  little  creatures  they  are ! "  she 
said,  seeing  that  Mrs.  Cooper's  eyes  followed  her 
movements  still.  "  I  was  thinking  of  it  when 
you  spoke  to  me.  How  unconsciously  they  win 
their  way  to  our  love  !  It 's  well  they  do,  poor 
little  things  ! " 

"  Do  you  really  love  little  babies,  little  crying, 
ti'oublesome  babies,  Mrs.  Henderson  ? " 

"  Babies  ?     Certainly." 

But  Mrs.  Cooper  was  not  to  talk.  That  was 
the  physician's  especial  caution.  It  was  only 
within  the  last  three  days  that  she  had  found  the 
least  desire  to  disobey  him. 

Johnny  was  a  bright,  noble-looking  little  fel- 
low, as  Mrs.  Henderson  took  him  from  Kate's 
hands,  fresh  from  his  toilet.  He  was  still  thin 
from  his  cough  ;  but  his  fine  eyes,  broad,  high 


190  THE   COOPERS.      V 

forehead,  and  golden  hair,  in  the  large  smooth 
curls  of  Katy's  manufacture,  were  "set  off,"  as 
the  phrase  is,  by  a  dress  of  crimson  merino,  over 
which  he  wore  a  clean  linen  apron,  fine  and  white, 
though  the  long  sleeves  came  to  his  wrists,  and 
covered  the  round  arms  his  mother  had  taken  such 
pride  in  displaying.  He  had  been  kept  as  mnch 
as  possible  from  his  mother's  room,  for  the  least 
noise  or  exertion  was  hurtful  in  the  utter  nervous 
and  physical  prosti-ation  of  the  first  two  weeks ; 
and  now  he  was  told  that  he  must  only  look  at  his 
little  sister,  not  kiss  her,  lest  she  should  "  get  a 
naughty  cough  too." 

Johnny  was  quite  ready  and  eager  to  go. 
Little  children,  as  well  as  old  ones,  find  a  wonder- 
ful enchantment  in  forbidden  ground  ;  and  then, 
too,  there  were  certain  delicacies  usually  to  be  seen 
on  his  mamma's  tray,  in  which  he  had  shared  on 
each  visit,  as  contributing  to  that  state  of  quiet 
which  was  desirable  on  his  j^art  while  there. 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  been  too  ill,  heretofore,  for 
more  than  a  single  kiss  and  caress ;  but,  this  cool, 
bi'acing  day,  she  seemed  to  gather  up  strength 
■vvith  every  breath  ;  and,  yearning  over  the  boy  in 


A  mother's  wages.  191 

his  lonely  banishment,  she  awaited  his  coming 
with  feverish  expectation.  She  thought  he  had 
never  looked  so  beautiful ;  she  never  had  loved 
him  80  well ;  and  she  held  out  her  arms,  as  Mrs. 
Henderson  set  him  down  upon  the  bed  beside  her, 
to  fold  him  close  to  her  heart.  But  Johnny,  with 
all  a  child's  waywardness,  turned  away,  and  put 
back  her  white  outstretched  hands  with  a  wilful 
"  No,  no."  It  was  a  little  thing.  He  had  caught 
sight  of  the  pretty  Parian  sugar-dish,  and  the  un- 
tasted  plate  of  toast  on  his  mother's  breakfast 
tray.  Johnny  had  an  eye  to  these  first,  and  would 
be  quite  willing  to  repay  the  expected  treat  in 
kisses,  no  doubt ;  but,  weak,  and  yearning  over 
him  as  she  had  been,  the  slight  repelling  move- 
ment went  to  her  heart  with  a  pang  of  pain.  Mrs. 
Henderson's  quickness  served  to  divert  the  hard 
thought. 

"  Do  you  see  what  I  have  taken  upon  myself  ? " 
And  she  touched  the  crimson  frock  and  long  sleeve 
of  the  child's  apron.  "  The  Doctor  thought  he 
would  be  so  much  better  clothed  more  warmly. 
So  Mr.  Cooper  shopped  for  me  ;  and  Katy  lias 
made  them  very  nicely,  I  think  ;  the  dresses,  that 


192  THE  COOPEKS. 

is.  The  aprons  I  found  cut  out  in  your  basket,  and 
only  added  the  sleeves." 

They  had  been  there  ever  since  the  spring. 
Mi*s.  Cooper  had  never  found  tlie  time  to  make  up 
the  set  she  had  purchased  the  day  the}'^  decided  to 
go  to  housekeeping.  Long  sleeves  and  colored 
frocks  !  It  was  against  her  creed  for  a  child  not 
yet  two  years  old,  or  scarcely  that ;  still,  it  was 
not  so  very  disfiguring  after  all,  and  would  save 
the  washing  of  those  eight  white  cambric  dresses 
a  week,  which  was  no  trifle  now  that  there  were 
the  baby's  clothes  to  be  done.  She  could  scarcely 
have  made  up  her  mind  to  do  it  herself,  though, 
and  was  really  thankful  that  she  could  not  be  con- 
sulted at  the  time.  How  soft  and  bright  those 
long  ringlets  were  in  the  shaded  room.  Those 
were  left  of  her  baby-boy,  at  least ;  and  that  com- 
forted her. 

"  The  Doctor  thinks  he  is  having  the  cough 
very  lightly,"  continued  Mrs.  Henderson,  in  an 
encouraging  tone ;  "  and  that,  being  so  warmly 
clothed,  especially  his  neck  and  arms  covered,  has 
a  great  deal  to  do  with  it.  He  urges  one  other 
thing,  though." 


A  mother's  wages,  193 

Mi'S.  Cooper  felt  instinctively  what  it  was,  but 
wonld  not  ask.  'Ho,  indeed,  nothing  should  per- 
suade her  to  sacrifice  Johnny's  curls  until  he  was 
five  years  old,  at  least.  She  had  often  pictured 
him  to  herself,  at  that  age,  in  a  plaid  poplin  sack, 
a  jaunty  velvet  cap,  with  the  curls  falling  in  a 
golden  shower  around  his  fair  face,  and  had  seen, 
in  imagination,  herself  leading  him  by  the  hand 
down  Broadway,  while  people  turned  to  look 
again,  saying,  involuntarily,  "  What  a  beautiful 
child  !  "  as  she  had  done  of  others. 

"  Doctor  Graham  thinks,  and  Mr.  Cooper  agrees 
with  him,  that  this  constant  dampness  is  not  good 
for  the  child  ;  though,  even  if  they  were  perfectly 
natural,  the  curls  would  be  better  cut  off." 

"  They  shall  stay  just  as  they  are,"  said  Mrs. 
Cooper,  so  shortly  that  Mrs.  Henderson  looked 
surprised  and  then  pained ;  but  the  momentary 
flush  passed  away  when  she  remembered  the  irri- 
table mood  so  often  the  consequence  of  extreme 
debility.  She  was  a  woman,  and  understood 
"  nerves ; "  so  she  said  nothing  as  she  held  Johnny 
down  to  kiss  his  mother  good-by,  and  carried  him 
from  the  room,  for  she  saw  signs  of  boisterous  con- 
9 


194  THE  COOPEES. 

duct  on  being  denied  a  second  spoonful  of  calves'- 
foot  jelly. 

She  was  gone  some  time,  long  enough  for  Mrs. 
Cooper  to  be  ashamed  and  sorry  for  her  quick 
words,  and  to  wonder  if  she  were  staying  away 
because  offended.  It  cost  her  an  effort  to  say  as 
much  when  Mrs.  Henderson  retm-ned. 

"  I  do  not  know  what  is  the  matter  with  me 
lately,"  she  said,  so  humbly  that  Lizzie  Grant 
would  have  opened  her  eyes  in  astonishment  if 
she  could  have  heard  her.  "  I  always  used  to 
think  I  was  amiable  ;  everybody  used  to  call  me 
so  ;  but  this  summer  I  have  been  so  cross  that  I 
sometimes  wonder  how  Murray  can  love  me." 

"  I  have  not  thought  of  it  since."  And  Mrs. 
Henderson,  having  covered  the  tray  with  a  fresh 
napkin,  for  which  she  had  been  to  the  kitchen, 
drew  the  low  chair  so  that  she  could  have  a  watch 
over  baby  and  its  mamma.  "  I  know  just  how 
little  things  touch  one  at  times." 

"  "Were  you  ever  fretful,  Mrs.  Henderson  ? " 

"  My  dear  ? "  was  the  answer,  in  a  tone  of  the 
most  extreme  surprise ;  not  that  Mrs.  Cooper 
could  imagine  her  guilty  of  the  infirmity  so  com- 


A  mother's  wages.  1&5 

mon  to  our  sex,  but  that  she  should  suppose  the 
possibility  of  her  being  exempt. 

"  It  wasn't  about  Johnny's  hair  so  much ;  but 
he  turned  away  from  me,  and  did  not  want  to  kiss 
me.  I  loved  him  so,  too,  and  was  so  glad  to  see 
him ;  but  he  never  loved  me,  not  as  I  tliought 
children  loved  their  mothers."  And  a  grieved 
sigh  finished  the  confession. 

"  Children  are  children,"  said  Mrs.  Henderson, 
sententially ;  "  and  we  must  not  expect  too  much 
of  them.  Johnny  saw  the  jelly  that  moment,  and 
he  wanted  it ;  that 's  all.  As  soon  as  he  had  finished 
it,  he  would  have  been  ready.  I  dare  say  he  loves 
you  quite  as  much  as  most  children  do  their 
mothers." 

"  Oh,  you  don't  know !  This  isn't  the  first 
time.  He  will  go  to  Kate  or  his  father  any  minute 
from  me  ;  he  has  all  summer.  It  has  been  one  of 
the  things,  the  worries,  you  know.  Murray  did 
not  understand.  He  only  laughed  at  me,  and 
called  me  jealous." 

"  Now  you  are  talking  too  long,"  said  Mrs. 
Henderson,  warningly.  "7'^Z  talk,  and  you  lis- 
ten ;   that  is,  if  listening  will  not  be  too  much 


JEW 


THE   COOPEES. 


itself.  People  listen  themselves  into  fevers  as 
often  as  they  -worry  themselves  sick.  Tell  me, 
honestly." 

"  Please  do  say  something ;  I  'm  so  tired  of 
lying  here — think,  thinking  all  day." 

"  Well,  you  said :  '  As  other  children  love.' 
Of  course,  there's  a  certain  natural  instinct  of 
love  between  parent  and  child ;  but  did  you  never 
notice  that  the  little  ones  always  take  a  fancy,  as 
it  is  called,  to  those  who  do  the  most  for  them, 
those  who  are  always  meeting  their  wants?  I 
suppose  you  have  been  ohliged  to  leave  Johnny 
chiefly  to  Katy's  care  this  summer,  which  accounts 
for  the  preference." 

"  Obliged  ! "  Mrs.  Henderson  laid  an  excusing 
stress  upon  the  word ;  but  her  listener's  conscience 
would  not  suffer  her  to  apply  it  fully.  She  knew 
that  she  had  many  a  time  been  only  too  glad  of 
the  excuse  of  hurry  or  languor,  to  send  the  child 
away  from  her  as  much  as  possible.  She  had 
none  of  that  "feminine  love  for  babies"  which 
many  young  girls  have  as  naturally  as  an  ear  for 
music  ;  and  every  step  of  nursery  experience  had 
cost  something  of  self-denial  and  effort.    The  nov- 


A  mothee's  wages.  197 

elty  of  the  thing,  the  dainty  wardrobe,  the  pride 
in  showing  off  her  pretty  baby,  in  his  best  moods, 
to  her  fellow-boarders,  or  the  visitors  who  made 
it  a  part  of  their  morning  call  to  ask  for  him, 
helped  wonderfully  at  first.  Then,  too,  the  cham- 
bermaid of  the  floor  took  care  of  the  rooms  ;  and 
the  nnrse  had  nothing  to  do  but  amuse  the  baby, 
or  walk  out  with  him  all  day,  so  that  she  had 
nearly  as  much  time  to  herself  as  before.  But 
when  the  wakeful  nights  of  teething  began,  and 
the  restless  stage  when  constant  exertion  is  neces- 
sary to  the  amusement  of  the  little  tyrants — when 
they  will  not  stay  in  your  arms  five  minutes  toge- 
ther, or  on  the  floor  three,  then  Mrs.  Cooper  began 
to  shrink  from  maternal  duties,  and  look,  with  the 
most  intense  pity,  on  the  mothers  of  large  little 
families.  She  was  not  to  be  condemned  as  un- 
natural in  this.  It  is  an  every-day  experience,  if 
those  who  undergo  it  could  be  brought  to  a  frank 
confession.  But  Mrs.  Cooper  had  given  way  to 
it ;  there  lay  the  fault ;  and  now,  when  she  looked 
further  on  in  life,  and  saw  how  softly  filial  love 
brightened  the  barrenness  of  middle  life,  and 
lighted  up  its  evening,  she  began  to  wonder  if 


198  THE  COOPERS. 

such  love  and  cherishing  would  ever  fall  to  her 
lot ;  and  she  drew  back  from  the  pain  of  self-con- 
demnation, ready  to  lay  the  blame  on  any  thing 
rather  than  herself.  The  germ  of  that  which  is 
"  cruel  as  the  grave  "  embittered  "  the  well-spring 
of  pleasure." 

"  But  there  is  a  difference,"  she  said,  slowly. 
"  I  am  sure  Mr.  Henderson  cares  more  for  you 
than  most  sons  do  for  their  mothers.  I  believe  he 
loves  you  better  than  any  one  in  the  world.  We 
have  always  noticed  it  in  him.  He  shows  it  in 
every  thing." 

Such  a  light  as  shone  for  an  instant  in  the  clear 
brown  eyes  that  met  Mrs.  Cooper's  questioning 
look  !  It  seemed  to  her  even  more  beautiful  than 
the  soft  flush  that  witnesses  to  the  confession  of  a 
lover's  most  entire  devotion. 

"  You  will  not  think  me  selfish  or  foolish,  Mrs. 
Cooper,  if  I  tell  you  that  I  believe  what  you  say. 
I  have  such  constant  evidence  of  it.  He  is  the 
best  of  sons." 

"  And  has  the  best  of  mothers — no  wonder  I " 
said  Mrs.  Cooper  to  herself.  The  thought  had 
answered  her  own  questioning  of  "  why  it  was  so." 


A.  mother's  wages.  199 

"  I  have  thought  a  great  deal  about  it,  my 
dear,  how  I  came  to  have  such  a  great  blessing  as 
my  son."  There  was  an  unconscious  accent  of 
just  pride  as  she  spoke  the  words.  "  And  some- 
times it  seems  to  me  that  we  are  more  fully  re- 
warded in  those  things  for  which  we  exert  the 
most  self-denial.  I  was  obliged  to,  understand,  in 
Stephen's  case.  His  father  died  when  he  was  so 
young,  only  six,  and  Helen  a  baby  in  my  arms ; 
Sarah  was  but  three, — all  babies,  you  may  say  ; 
and  there  was  little  or  nothing  left  to  take  care  of 
them  with." 

"  Oh,  how  hard  !  "  Mrs.  Cooper  felt  her  own 
burden,  the  care  of  two,  shrink  into  nothing. 
"  What  did  you  do  ? " 

"  The  best  I  could ;  but,  as  an  old  Quaker 
friend  of  mine  once  said,  *  I  did  not  walk  in  silver 
slippers,  /  tdl  thee.''  At  first,  I  was  perfectly 
overwhelmed,  naturally  enough.  Stephen  is  much 
like  his  father ;  so  you  can  tell  what  I  had  lost. 
"With  that  ever  present,  the  actual  physical  care 
of  my  babies,  and  having  to  provide  for  them  in  a 
great  measure,  I  was  only  a  little  older  than  you 
are  now — two  years.    Perhaps  that  will  be  a  com- 


200  THE   COOPERS. 

fort  to  yon  some  day,  when  you  feel  that  you  have 
a  great  deal  to  accomplish." 

It  was  not  Mrs.  Henderson's  way  to  speak 
much  of  her  own  experience.  She  had  learned 
that  "  love  vaunteth  not  itself ; "  but  she  did  so 
now,  knowing  that  Mrs.  Cooper  felt  weighed  down 
by  the  care  she  was  so  soon  to  take  up  again ;  and 
she  knew,  by  experience,  that  trials  are  often 
lightened  by  comparison. 

"  I  should  have  given  up  in  despair.  I  wish 
you  would  tell  me  all  about  it.  I  have  often 
wished  to  know  what  made  you  always  so  cheer- 
ful. Oh,  dear,  I  wish  I  was !  but  I  can't  be.  Things 
go  wrong ;  and  I  get  womed,  and  wish  I  was 
dead — ^I  do,  indeed.  Don't  look  so  shocked.  I 
say  so,  I  mean ;  and  Murray  feels  as  if  I  did  not 
love  him  ;  and  I  can't  bear  to  think  of  living  on 
so,  only  woi*se  and  worse  for  years." 

Mre.  Cooper  spoke  eagerly.  What  was  this 
hidden  strength  and  stay  ?  It  baffled  her  compre- 
hension. Mrs.  Henderson  saw  something  of  this, 
and  did  not  seek  to  divert  the  thought.  It  is 
being  made  fully  conscious  of  our  weakness  and 
need,  that  leads  us  to  our  cure. 


A  mother's  wages.  201 

"  I  do  not  pity  people  who  seem  to  be  pressed 
down  by  accumulated  misfortunes  as  much  as 
many  do,  for  I  know,  in  my  own  case,  one  helped 
me  to  bear  the  other.  I  did  not  have  time  to 
dwell  on  my  own  loss,  and  so  cherish  rebellion 
against  the  hand  which  had  dealt  it  out  to  me. 
That  is  a  temptation  the  rich  have  to  struggle 
with,  which  the  poor,  who  look  to  them  with 
envy,  do  not  understand.  I  thought  it  very  hard, 
then — the  necessity  for  exerting  myself  when  I 
had  never  looked  forward  to  such  a  life,  and  knew 
not  what  to  turn  to ;  but  I  see  that  it  was  an  actual 
blessing  now." 

"  But  if  you  had  been  sure  of  a  maintenance, 
Mrs.  Henderson — if  you  had  had  a  father  or  broth- 
er to  rely  on.  Stephen  told  us  about  it  one 
evening;  and  he  seemed  so  proud  of  what  you 
did  then." 

"  I  had — the  best  reliance.  I  remember,  one 
day,  that  very  thouglit  came  into  my  mind  as  I 
sat  over  my  work  with  aching  heart  and  weary 
hands.  It  was  for  the  children  more  particularly. 
I  thought  what  if  I  should  die,  and  they  be  left 
entirely  destitute,  or  if  my  health  should  give  out, 
9* 


202  THE   C00PEK8. 

for  I  was  willing  to  work  for  them  as  long  as  I 
could.  It  was  the  common  temptation  of  adding 
to-morrow's  burden  to  the  day's." 

"  K  you  could  only  have  seen  the  future  really, 
and  how  nicely  it  would  all  turn  out ;  if  people 
could  only  have  their  fortunes  told  !  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Henderson ;  "  but  we  do 
know ;  that  is,  if  we  follow  the  path  marked  out 
for  us.  I  was  going  to  tell  you  how  I  found  my 
help  that  day  ;  and  I  believe  I  nev^er  entirely  lost 
sight  of  it  afterwards.  I  laid  my  work  down  in 
the  middle  of  a  seam,  and  took  up  my  Bible,  ask- 
ing, in  my  heart,  for  some  pledge  of  the  future ; 
and  I  found  this,  which  I  never  doubted  be- 
longed to  me :  '  my  God  shall  supply  all  thy 
Tieeds ' — not  all  my  wants^  you  know.  I  have  been 
denied  them  sometimes,  but  my  needs  always.  I 
never  had  a  wholly  dark  day  after  that." 

Mrs.  Cooper  wondered  more  than  ever.  There 
was  an  earnest  conviction  of  the  reality  of  what 
she  said,  in  Mrs.  Hendereon's  tone  and  manner, 
which  left  no  room  to  doubt  her  sincerity ;  yet 
the  elegantly  bound  Bible,  lying  on  her  dressing- 
table,  had  never  spoken  thus  to  her.     She  held  its 


A.  mother's  wages.  203 

pages  in  a  certain  awe  and  reverence,  more  the 
effect  of  education  than  feeling.  She  read  it  at 
times,  especially  dull  Sundays,  when  there  was  no 
church-going  ;  but  it  was  a  dead  letter  ;  no  living 
inspiration  passed  from  its  pages  into  her  heart ; 
the  volume  closed,  the  remembrance  faded,  "  as  a 
tale  that  is  told,"  in  which  she  had  no  part  nor 
lot.  Kay,  she  had  often  held  those  who  spoke  of  it 
differently  as  hypocrites  or  self-deceived.  Mrs. 
Henderson  could  be  neither  :  her  consistency  had 
witnessed  to  the  truth  and  soundness  of  her  prin- 
ciples. 

"  I  don't  mean  to  say  that  I  never  doubted  or 
desponded,"  said  Mrs.  Henderson,  looking  up, 
presently.  Her  pause  had  been  filled  with  over- 
flowing thankfulness  in  the  retrospect  thus  traced. 
"  I  had  often  temptations  to  both,  and  suffered  for 
yielding  to  them  ;  but  the  Golden  Key  of  Promise 
has  helped  me  out  of  many  a  dungeon  in  Doubt- 
ing Castle."  And  she  murmured  softly  to  her- 
self :  "  Wliat  time  I  am  afraid,  I  will  trust  in  thee." 

"  It  has  all  ended  so  nicely  now,"  said  Mrs. 
Cooper  again.  She  could  not  venture  upon  a 
ground  so  new  to  her. 


204:  THE   C00PEB8. 

"  Yes,  Stephen  is  all  I  could  have  desired ; 
and  Helen  is  teaching,  you  know ;  Sarah  is 
our  housekeeper.  I  have  the  great  comfort  of 
seeing  my  childi-en  in  peace  and  love  with  each 
other,  and  still  turning  to  me  with  more  than 
their  childish  love  and  confidence." 

"  Tlie  reward,^  as  well  as  the  comfort,"  thought 
her  listener,  for  she  knew  of  the  toiling  days  and 
weary  nights  Mrs.  Henderson  had  not  even  al- 
luded to  ;  and  her  mind  passed  on  to  the  division, 
and  ingratitude,  £fhd  indifierence,  if  not  open  vice, 
which  she  knew  embittered  the  lives  of  many  rich 
men,  and  fashionable  mothers,  who  had  sown  the 
wind  and  reaped  the  whirlwind. 

"  So,  my  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Hendereon,  cheer- 
fully, "  don't  be  discouraged  about  Johnny  or 
Johnny's  sister.  It  might  be  woree,  you  know. 
A  mother's  life,  at  best,  is  one  of  unaA''oidable 
pain,  and  care,  and  anxiety ;  but,  when  once  ac- 
cepted heartily,  it  has  its  own  helps  and  comforts 
in  abundance.  It  seems  to  me  that  too  many 
young  mothers  look  on  their  children  only  as 
accessories  to  their  own  pride  and  pleasure.  They 
foster  vanity  in  them  by  indulging  their  own,  in 


A  mother's  wages.  205 

their  dress  and  education,  instead  of  putting  the 
good  of  the  child  and  its  real  happiness  always 
uppermost.  Peevishness  and  discontent  don't 
need  much  cultivation  ;  drop  the  seed,  and  that's 
all  sufficient.  I  used  to  be  very  fond  of  riding. 
I  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  you  know.  A  child 
is  something  like  a  horse — the  firmest  but  the 
gentlest  hand  is  the  most  readily  yielded  to. 
Give  to  the  motion  as  much  as  you  can,  but  don't 
loose  your  hold  on  the  reins." 

Tlie  doctor's  daily  visit  broke  in  upon  the 
shortest  morning  Mrs.  Cooper  had  passed  since 
her  illness  ;  and  she  was  pronounced  as  decidedly 
convalescent.  "How's  the  boy,  Mrs.  Hender- 
son ? "  he  asked,  as  he  turned  to  leave  the  room  ; 
and  the  invalid  heard  him  say,  in  the  hall :  "  I 
wish  you  could  persuade  her  all  that  soaking  is  a 
miserable  thing  for  him.  If  he  was  my  child,  I 
should  have  that  hair  off  at  once.  I  don't  wonder 
he's  fretful." 

Mrs.*  Cooper  woke,  strangely  refreshed  from 
her  mid-day  nap.  She  had  slept  much  longer 
than  usual,  and  more  soundly.     It  was  almost  time 


206  THE  COOPERS. 

for  the  welcome  signal  of  the  firet  train,  in  which 
her  husband  came  regularly  since  her  illness. 

"  Can  I  sit  up  a  little  while,  here,  I  mean,  with 
the  pillows  ? "  she  asked  of  Mrs.  Henderson,  who 
was  ministering  gentlj  as  ever  at  her  side.  "  And 
now  I  should  like  to  have  Johnny  in  again.  I 
hear  Katy  with  him  in  the  hall." 

Mrs.  Henderson  opened  the  door;  and  the 
child  stretched  out  his  arms  towards  his  mother 
with  a  pleased  cry  at  the  unexpected  admittance. 
Such  a  kiss  and  embrace  he  had  never  before 
been  welcomed  with. 

"  And  now  my  scissors,  if  you  please,  in  the 
rosewood  box  ;  indeed,  I  must  do  it  myself,  Mrs. 
Henderson.  I  could  not  bear  to  see  any  one  else 
half  so  well." 

Mrs.  Hendereon  ceased  to  remonstrate.  The 
thin  hands  shook  a  little  ;  and  Mrs.  Cooper's  eyes 
were  dim.  She  could  not  help  it ;  but  very  soon 
the  curls  lay  a  bright  and  tangled  mass  on  the 
snow-white  counterpane  before  her.  They  were 
the  first  sacrifice  laid  on  the  new  altar  of  a  self- 
denying  mother's  love,  which  wise  counsel  and 
penitent  thoughts  had  that  morning  helped  to  rear. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"the    fkugal    housewife." 

"  The  origin  of  wealtli  is  In  a  moral  feeling — self-denial.  '  Here  is  some- 
thing I  will  not  consume  or  throw  away ;  I  will  take  care  of  it,  store  it  up  for 
the  future  use  of  myself  and  others.'  The  man  who  first  said  and  acted  thus, 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  virtue  npon  earth.  The  savings  of  each  man  are  a 
diffusive  blessing  to  all ;  and,  therefore,  so  far,  frugality  la  a  thing  which  all 
may  and  ought  to  applaud." 

"  Drive  your  work  steadily,  or  it  will  drive  you  in  the  end." 

"  The  neighbors  have  been  very  kind ;  don't 
you  think  so,  Mrs.  Henderson  ? "  said  Mrs.  Cooper, 
as  she  sent  a  message  of  acknowledgment  to  the 
door.  Katy  had  just  brought  up  a  basket  with 
two  prints  of  fresh  butter,  so  yellow,  so  delicately 
moulded,  that  they  were  in  themselves  sufficient 
to  provoke  an  appetite. 

"  Mrs.  Lawrence  sends  her  compliments,  and 
wants  to  know  how  Mrs.  Cooper  and  the  baby 
are,"  drawled  Kate,  with  the  indifference  of  one 


208  THE   CXX)PEKS. 

•who  repeats  a  thrice-told  tale.  She  had  brought 
much  the  same  message,  and  often  wdth  a  similar 
substantial  token  of  good  will,  from  some  one  of 
the  neighbors  every  day  for  a  fortnight. 

"  I  think  they  have.  That 's  one  blessing  of 
living  in  the  country — neighbors." 

"  Most  people  do  not  think  so.  That  was  one 
thing  we  dreaded  when  we  came  out  here.  I  had 
always  heard  and  read  so  much  of  the  gossip  and 
interference  of  a  country  neighborhood,  and  con- 
gratulated myself  that  I  lived  where  the  person 
next  door  scarcely  knew  my  name ;  and  I  could 
keep  my  affairs  to  myself." 

"I  have  not  heard  much  gossip  from  the  ladies 
who  have  called  on  you,  or  to  inquire  for  you," 
said  Mrs.  Henderson.  "  "We  have  seen  a  great 
deal  of  Mrs.  Lawrence,  and  Mrs.  Phillips,  too." 

"  Oh,  I  shall  never  forget  how  kind  Mrs.  Phil- 
lips was  that  day  I  was  so  very  ill !  Why,  I 
never  should  have  thought  of  offering  to  do  what 
she  did,  if  I  had  pitied  people  ever  so  much,  or 
even  letting  her  do  it,  if  I  had  been  asked." 

"  So  much  for  being  a  countrywoman  myself," 
said  Mrs.  Henderson.     "  We  were  very  much  in 


"the  frugal  housewife."  209 

need  of  help  that  daj,  with  jou  and  the  baby  both 
so  ill,  such  help  as  could  not  be  had  on  the  instant 
for  any  payment^^CKShe  offered  it  frankly  ;  and  I 
accepted  it  for  you.  She  seems  a  very  sincere 
and  kindly  person." 

"  She  must  be,  I  am  sure.  I  think  you  can 
always  tell  by  a  person's  face  whether  they  mean 
what  they  say.  Can't  you  ?  Thank  you ;  I  am 
so  comfortable  !  You  know  exactly  what  I  want 
always.  How  did  you  learn  to  be  such  a  capital 
nurse,  Mrs.  Henderson  ? " 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  not  yet  left  her  room,  though 
her  husband,  after  due  consultation  with  the  doc- 
tor, had  promised  her,  if  she  would  be  "  a  very 
good  girl,"  she  should  dine  down  stairs  on  the 
next  Thursday,  her  birthday.  To  tell  the  truth, 
she  was  not  in  any  haste  to  "  get  about."  She 
had  such  a  dread  of  the  care  and  worry  that  would 
come  upon  her  when  she  was  where  she  could  see 
things  going  wrong  again  ;  and  it  was  so  pleasant 
in  her  neat,  well-ordered  chamber,  enlivened  by 
Johnny's  frequent  presence,  Mrs.  Henderson's 
cheerful  conversation,  and  the  evening  chat,  now 
that  her  husband  had  no  out-door  pursuits  to  call 


210  THE    COOPERS. 

t 

him  away  from  lier.  He  had  never  been  more 
attentive  and  lover-like  ;  and  she  had  an  instinc- 
tive dread  of  breaking  the  plea?  nt  spell  of  conva- 
lescence. 

"  "What  the  eye  does  not  see,  the  heart  does 
not  inie,"  thought  Mrs.  Cooper,  as  she  walked 
slowly  around  the  room,  pausing  to  look  into 
drawers  whose  contents  she  had  almost  forgotten, 
or  out  on  the  dreary  November  landscape.  "  I 
suppose  the  kitchen  and  door-yard  look  as  usual, 
and  Kate  is  as  idle  as  ever." 

"  Two  days  more  to  be  a  prisoner,"  said  Mrs. 
Henderson,  who  had  appropriated  the  mending- 
basket,  and  was  rapidly  diminishing  the  pile  of 
garments  and  stockings  it  contained.  She  thought 
Mrs.  Cooper  began  to  feel  the  restraint  irksome, 

"  It  might  be  two  weeks,  and  I  should  not  cry 
over  it,"  she  said,  turning  to  the  lounge,  made 
very  inviting  with  its  pile  of  pillows.  "  Oh,  this 
is  so  nice  I  No,  I  don't  think  I  want  to  go  down 
stall's  at  all." 

"  Let  me  thi'ow  this  shawl  over  your  feet, 
there.    Now  you  may  be  as  idle  as  you  like." 

"  I  know  I  ought  not  to  be  lying  here  so  help- 


"the  fbugal  hotjsewife."  211 

less,  seeing  you  work  for  me ;  that  is  the  only 
trouble  I  have  just  now.  Murray  said  last  night 
that  we  had  allowed  you  to  do  altogether  too 
much ;  and  he  wished  that  he  had  insisted  on 
having  a  nurse." 

"I  think  now,  just  as  I  did  then,  since  we  could 
not  get  one  when  most  needed,  she  would  only 
have  been  in  the  way  afterwards,  with  me  about 
at  the  same  time,  I  mean.  She  would  have 
wanted  her  fashion  of  doing  things,  and  I  mine  ; 
and  we  might  not  have  agreed.  Old  ladies  like 
myself  are  fanciful,  or  '  notional,'  as  they  say  in 
Kockland,  and  very  'set,'  which  usually  means 
obstinate." 

Mrs.  Cooper  felt  that  she  never  could  repay, 
in  any  shape,  the  peculiai'  service  Mrs.  Henderson 
had  rendered  them ;  but  even  that  acknowledg- 
ment could  not  be  made  except  by  implication. 

"  I  think  I  could  mend  those  stockings  ;  that 
would  be  doing  something,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper, 
looking  about  for  her  long  unused  work-box. 

"I  think  you  will  just  lie  stiU  for  the  present." 

"  But  doing  nothing  so  long ;  and  there's  so 
much  to  be  done — all  my  fall  sewing." 


212  THE   COOPERS. 

"  You  are  getting  well,  and  strong  too,  I  hope ; 
that's  of  much  more  consequence.  You  cannot 
have  so  much  work  on  hand." 

"  Oh,  but  there  is — ^you  don't  know — I  did  not 
accomplish  any  thing  this  summer.  There's  that 
lower  drawer  half  full  yet,  things  I  had  com- 
menced, and  had  to  put  by  again  for  something  I 
was  in  a  hurry  for.  It  has  given  me  a  headache 
every  time  I  have  looked  at  it.  Some  days  last 
summer  I  used  to  feel  as  if  I  was  crushed  down 
by  it." 

"  Why  didn't  you  give  it  out  ? " 

Mrs.  Cooper  hesitated  a  moment. 

"You  know  just  how  Murray  and  Mr.  Hen- 
derson began,"  she  said,  "  and  that  we  have  had 
to  be  as  economical  as  possible." 

"  Suppose  I  should  tell  you  that,  in  this  case, 
I  did  not  think  it  economy." 

Mrs.  Cooper  looked  her  amazement  at  this  un- 
expected proposition. 

"  I  do  not,  indeed,"  said  her  friend.  "  You 
see  what  it  ended  in.  Doctor  Graham  told  me 
at  once  that  he  knew  you  had  worried  yourself 
sick,  from  the  state  your  nerves  were  in." 


"the  feugajl  housewife."  213 

"I  want  to  help  Murray  so  mucli — oh,  you 
don't  know ! " 

"  Do  you  think  it  is  much  help  to  any  man  to 
have  a  sick,  broken-down  wife,  always  irritable 
and  complaining?  That  was  what  you  were 
making  yourself." 

"  But  I  was  always  brought  up  to  think  that 
it  was  great  extravagance  to  give  out  family  sew- 
ing.    I  did  not  know  how  else  to  save." 

"  I  think,"  said  Mrs.  Henderson,  drawing  off 
her  spectacles — she  only  wore  them  when  sewing 
or  reading — "  that  every  mother  of  a  family  must 
have  her  own  way  of  economizing ;  but  there  is 
one  thing  always  to  be  kept  in  mind.  That  is  not 
true  economy  which  wastes  your  best  capital, 
health  and  cheerfulness.  I  know  that  hard  neces- 
sity often  obliges  men  and  women  to  work  beyond 
their  strength  ;  but  I  am  speaking  now  of  people 
in  moderate  circumstances,  where  it  is  not  a  mat- 
ter of  daily  bread.  A  mother  especially,  needs 
every  bit  of  strength  and  cheerfulness  she  can 
hoard  to  do  her  duty  by  her  children  and  their 
father." 


214  THE    COOPERS. 

"  But  I  should  only  be  too  glad  to  be  idle,  Mrs, 
Henderson.     "We  all  like  that." 

"  I  did  not  say  any  thing  about  idleness  ;  no, 
nor  yet  self-indulgence."  And  the  spectacles  re- 
ceived a  gentle  polish,  more  from  habit  than 
present  need.  "  I  do  not  believe  in  either  when 
people  have  an  abundance  of  means.  Somebody 
says :  '  True  economy  is  not  pinching  in  a  few 
expenses,  but  a  watch  over  all,  and  especially  a 
wise  regulation  of  larger  outlays.'  What  do  you 
suppose  I  was  thinking  when  you  showed  me  that 
pretty  silk  you  are  to  have  fitted  when  you  go  in 
town  ? " 

"  You  can't  call  that  extravagant !  only  a  dol- 
lar a  yard — the  cheapest  thing  I  could  find.  "Why, 
in  the  city,  I  should  scarcely  have  thought  it  would 
answer — such  prices  as  people  pay  nowadays ! 
That  is  one  of  my  pet  economies,  I  'm  sure." 

"  The  twelve  or  fourteen  dollars  it  cost  would 
have  paid  for  all  your  sewing,  a  seamstress  for  two 
months,  board  and  all." 

"  But  I  needed  the  dress." 

"  You  showed  me  two  good  silks,  besides,  and 
a  nice  cashmere." 


"the  feugal  housewife."  215 

"I  have  had  the  blue  one  ever  since  I  was 
married  ;  and  it 's  such  an  old-fashioned  style,  that 
plain  dress,  when  every  one  wears  flounces.  The 
other  is  a  year  old."  .  "  > 

"  But  perfectly  fresh  and  good.  I  think  you 
take  excellent  care  of  your  wardrobe.  You  know 
I  have  had  to  be  inspector  of  closets  and  drawers." 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  always  been  a  wonder  to 
Lizzie  Grant  on  that  account.  She  looked  quite 
as  well  dressed  ;  but  her  clothes  did  not  cost  half 
as  much,  and  looked  fresh  to  the  last. 

"  I  have  always  had  to  take  care  of  my  things," 
she  explained  to  Mrs.  Henderson.  "  Aunt  Agnes 
was  obliged  to — and  of  every  thing  else,  for  that 
matter ;  but  I  never  knew  much  about  the  house. 
Uncle  gave  me  an  allowance  every  year  for  my 
clothes ;  and  I  had  to  make  it  go  as  far  as  possible." 

"You  must  take  just  the  same  principle  in 
managing  your  house  expenses." 

"  I  have  tried  to." 

"I  am  sure  you  have;  but,  when  you  first 
began  to  have  an  allowance,  you  made  some  mis- 
takes, I  suppose." 

"  Quantities.     I  remember  that  I  was  going  to 


216  THE   COOPEES. 

make  up  a  set  of  underclothes,  and  I  prided  my- 
self on  paying  two  cents  a  yard  less  for  the  cloth 
than  Aunt  Agnes  herself  did.  I  made  them  beau- 
tifully ;  and  they  were  gone  in  less  time  than  I 
spent  on  them,  it  seems  to  me  ;  and  all  the  com- 
fort Aimt  gave  me  was  to  say  that  she  knew  it 
would  be  so  when  I  showed  her  the  thin,  uneven 
cloth." 

"  There,  you  see,  w^as  a  waste  of  time  and 
money  both  in  saving  fifty  or  seventy-five  cents  ; 
for,  of  course,  they  had  to  be  renewed." 

"  But  then,  Mrs.  Henderson,  it  taught  me  that 
Aunt  Agnes  was  right  in  saying  '  the  best  was  al- 
ways the  cheapest.' " 

"There  it  is  again,"  said  Mre.  Henderson. 
"  An  excellent  rule  when  you  don't  carry  it  to  ex- 
tremes. For  instance,  the  bird's-eye  in  those 
aprons  of  Johnny's." 

"  Yes,  I  thought  of  that  then.  It  was  sixty- 
two  cents." 

"And  that  at  fifty  would  have  been  quite  fine 
enough  for  a  boy  of  his  size,  and  would  wear  just 
as  long,  if  not  longer.  Let  me  see ;  there  were 
about  eight  yards  in  the  set,"  I  suppose." 


"the  frugal  house-wife."  217 

«  Nine." 

"  Well,  and  nine  times  twelve  are  a  hundred 
and  eight.  A  dollar  and  eight  cents.  It  would 
almost  pay  for  the  making  that  has  worried  you 
so  much." 

"  I  never  thought  of  that.  But  Mrs.  Hender- 
son, I  cannot  bear  to  see  coarse  material  on 
babies." 

"  Johnny  is  not  baby  any  longer." 

Mrs.  Cooper  looked  with  a  glad,  loving  smile, 
towards  the  crib  to  which  the  baby  had  that  day 
been  promoted.  Mrsl  Henderson,  strangely  enough 
for  a  matron  of  the  old  school,  did  not  believe  in 
cradles  or  feather  beds  for  even  an  infant,  and 
had  advised  the  anti-rocking  principle  from  the 
first.  It  was  one  of  the  "notions"  she  pleaded 
guilty  to,  that  children  could  be  taught  regular 
habits  and  regular  hours  in  a  great  degree  from 
the  first  moment  of  consciousness,  and  that  they 
were  many  times  spoiled  for  good  behavior  be- 
fore they  were  generally  supposed  to  be  old 
enough  for  any  training.  Consequently,  she  often 
denied  herself  and  Mrs.  Cooper  the  pleasure  of 
"  tending  "  the  little  one  when  quiet,  of  soothing 
10 


218  THE  COOPERS. 

its  restlessness  by  walking  about,  or  administering 
anodynes.  It  was  dressed  and  undressed  at  very 
nearly  the  same  hour  every  day,  and  expected  to 
be  in  bed  and  sound  asleep  for  the  evening  at 
dark.  So  far,  the  system  had  answered  admirably, 
to  Mrs.  Cooper's  wonder,  when  she  recollected  all 
the  trouble  there  was  with  Johnny,  his  colic  and 
his  catnip-tea,  paregoric  and  incessant  cradle-rock- 
ing. Whether  it  was  the  effect  of  "  the  system," 
or  the  young  lady's  natural  amiability,  she  had 
not  yet  decided. 

"  What  were  we  talking  about  ?  Oh,  Johnny's 
aprons  !  "  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  recalling  herself  from 
some  such  speculation.  "  I  believe  it  is  partly 
taste  ;  there  seems  to  me  such  a  fitness  in  having 
every  thing  for  a  little  child  as  delicate  as  possi- 
ble ;  and  then  I  was  boarding  when  I  first  began 
to  shop  for  him ;  and  I  did  not  know  any  thing 
about  it.  Mrs.  Paul — you  have  heard  me  talk 
about  her.  Well,  I  used  to  go  to  her.  She  always 
showed  me  her  purchases,  and  I  carried  mine  into 
her  room  regularly  when  I  came  home  from  Stew- 
art's. Her  boy  was  only  three  months  older  than 
Johnny;  and  she  made  such  a  point  of  having 


"the  frugal  housewife."  219 

every  thing  as  fine  as  possible.  Why,  you  could 
hardly  tell  Charlie's  aprons  from  plain  linen — a 
little  way  oif." 

"I've  heard  you  say,  too,  that  people  who 
boarded  were  always  extravagant  in  dress,  be- 
cause they  had  to  keep  up  with  others  in  the 
house." 

"  Yes,  indeed,  it  makes  the  greatest  difference, 
ilurray  thought  it  was  all  nonsense  when  I  first 
began  to  tell  him  about  it." 

"  I  don't  know  much  about  extravagance  in 
dress,"  said  Mrs.  Henderson  ;  "  but  it  seems  to 
me  that  you  have  not  left  your  boarding-house 
principle  quite  out  of  sight  when  you  purchased  a 
third  silk  dress  because  one  had  no  flounces,  and 
the  other  had  been  worn  a  year.  But,  here  it  is 
lunch-time ;  and  the  butter  from  Mrs.  Lawrence 
will  make  its  first  appearance." 

"  I  will  think  it  over  while  you  get  the  tray,'* 
said  Mrs.  Cooper,  good-naturedly,  though  she  felt 
a  little  crest-fallen  at  finding  herself  not  quite  so 
wise  and  prudent  as  she  had  imagined. 

"  You  won't  mind  my  plain  dealing,  will  you, 
my  dear  ? "  Mrs.  Henderson  returned,  with  a  sec- 


220  THE  COOPERS. 

ond  thought,  from  the  head  of  the  stairs.  "  Ton 
seem  to  me  so  much  like  one  of  my  own  daugh- 
ters, that  it  comes  natural  to  speak  to  you  as  I  do 
to  them." 

"  Oh,  not  at  all !  not  in  the  least,  I  assure  you. 
It  is  just  such  help  as  Aunt  Agnes  would  give  me 
if  I  could  go  to  her.  I  can't  writs  about  such 
things ;  and  I  have  often  wished  I  could  talk  them 
over  with  some  one  who  was  really  experienced, 
and  who  could  understand  our  aflfairs." 

"  Which  I  do,  with  Stephen  in  the  firm." 
Mrs.  Henderson  seemed  to  forget  her  errand  in 
the  interest  of  the  convereation,  as  ladies  of  mid- 
dle age  frequently  will,  and  sat  down  again. 
"  You  see  this,  my  dear ;  you  wanted  to  be  eco- 
nomical, but  you  began  by  making  the  most  un- 
comfortable, and,  in  your  case,  needless  sacrifice. 
The  will  is  a  great  thing ;  but  experience  must  be 
added  before  it  can  be  of  essential  service.  I 
know  how  accumulated  work,  one  thing  being 
decidedly  wrong,  sets  every  thing  else  out  of 
order.  It  is  a  weight  always  hanging  over  you. 
If  you  had  had  a  seamstress,  and  cleared  your 
hands  of  the  sewing,  you  would  have  brought 


"the  feugal  housewife."  221 

more  energy  and  spirit  to  your  nursery  and  domes- 
tic cares,  and  had  ample  time  for  both.  Almost 
any  woman  can  compass  this,  if  she  will  deny  her- 
self one  or  two  expensive  articles  of  dress  or  orna- 
ment in  a  year.  It  always  does  vex  me  when  I 
see  people  wasting  time  and  strength  in  little 
pinching  economies,  and  immediately  spending  it 
on  some  article  of  dress  or  furaiture,  only  made 
necessary  by  the  '  speech  of  people.' " 

"  I  never  have  thought  of  it  before,  I  am  sure, 
and  thought  I  was  doing  my  duty  'cery  hard  as  a 
good  wife,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  playfully. 

"  But  that  was  just  where  you  were  wrong. 
An  irritable  temper,  for  one  thing,  comes  of  over- 
work ;  and  that  is  in  itself  enough  to  upset  all 
domestic  peace.  And  then,  my  dear,  just  think 
of  it !  that  cannot  be  duty  which  absorbs  time 
and  strength  belonging  to  other  things.  You  are 
to  be  your  husband's  best  friend  and  helper  in  all 
moral  and  intellectual  progress.  You  are  to  set 
your  children  an  example  that  will  not  contradict 
your  teachings, — of  all  patience,  and  gentleness, 
and  firmness.  You  cannot  do  this  with  a  mind 
constantly  distracted    by  household    cares,  and 


222  THE    COOPERS. 

your  strength  spent  in  toil  that  gives  you  no  space 
for  recreation." 

"  But,  Mrs.  Hendereon,  many  and  many  a 
poor  woman  has  to  work  herself  ill." 

"  I  know  it ;  but  don't  you  remember  we  are 
talking  about  people  who  do  not  need  to  sacrifice 
all  comfort,  only  *  to  cut  off  needless  expenditm-es 
of  time  and  money,'  as  one  of  my  best  advisers 
has  it.     That  was  what  you  were  trying  to  do." 

"There,  how  can  a  person  be  economical? 
that 's  it  I "  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  sitting  upright  with 
sudden  energy.  "  If  you  save  in  your  table,  peo- 
ple call  you  mean.  I  never  would,  and  never  will, 
pinch  in  servants'  wages,  and  cheapen  things,  espe- 
cially the  price  of  work,  from  sewing  to  house- 
cleaning." 

"  Neither  should  you.  If  there  is  one  thing 
urged  above  the  rest  in  our  duty  towards  others, 
it  is,  '  The  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire.' " 

"  '  But  the  hand  of  the  diligent  maketh  rich.' " 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  never  known  herself  use  a 
quotation  from  this  authority  before ;  but  it 
flashed  suddenly  into  her  mind  in  the  heat  of 
argument. 


"the  frugal  housewife."  223 

"Exactly,"  said  Mrs.  Henderson,  smiling; 
"  you  will  find  room  enough  for  diligence  if  you 
try  to  keep  ahead  of  your  work  when  it  is  once 
arranged,  so  as  not  to  have  that  harassed,  driven 
feeling  which  wears  upon  the  nerves  so  dreadfully 
— if  you  oversee  your  household  thoroughly,  and 
give  the  time  to  your  children  and  social  duties 
which  they  require." 

"  Social  duties  2 " 

"  You  do  not  leave  those  out  of  sight  alto- 
gether." 

"  I  'm  afraid  I  have,  if  there  are  any.  Since 
we  stopped  going  to  parties ;  and,  indeed,  I  never 
did  care  about  them,  since  there  was  nothing  par- 
ticular to  dress  for — since  I  was  married,  I  mean, 
and  ceased  to  care  about  general  admiration." 

Mrs.  Henderson  liked  the  frankness  which  ad- 
mitted she  had  once  done  so  ;  it  was  one  point  of 
Mrs.  Cooper's  character  which  led  her  to  hope  and 
expect  much  from  her  in  the  future. 

"  You  know  what  we  were  saying  about  neigh- 
bors, this  morning  ? "  she  returned.  "  Suppose 
Mre.  Phillips  had  been  so  loaded  down  by  her 
own  cares  that  she  could  not  have  given  us  that 


224  THE  C00PEE8. 

most  seasonable  aid,  or  Mrs.  Lawrence  too  much 
absorbed  in  her  own  family  to  remember  that  she 
had  a  sick  neighbor  to  inquire  for,  and  send  some- 
thing, too,  by  way  of  a  kindly  remembrance." 

"  Oh,  never  mind  lunch  just  yet ! " — as  this 
reminded  Mrs.  Henderson  of  her  forgotten  errand. 
"  I  'm  afraid  we  shall  not  get  back  just  where  we 
are  again  ;  and  I  really  want  to  know  what  sacri- 
fice I  can  make :  really,  I  am  very  much  in 
earnest,  Mrs.  Henderson.  Do  what  I  would  to 
be  economical,  some  person  would  call  it  mean, 
whether  I  save  in  dress,  or  the  table,  or  work." 

"  Don't  live  for  the  opinion  of  others,  to  begin 
with.  I  should  not  think  you  cared  a  great  deal 
for  it,  from  what  you  told  me  about  furnishing. 
But  you  know  these  are  two  things  quite  distinct, 
hraving  public  opinion,  pride  in  another  form, 
and  that  just  consciousness  of  your  own  purity  of 
intent  which  can  only  come  from  high  motives, 
and  a  careful  scrutiny  of  your  own  conduct  to 
guard  against  mistakes — as  the  one  we  have  been 
talking  of — and  self-deception." 

"  I  certainly  did  deceive  myself.  I  never 
thought  I  was  going  to  bring  such  an  illness  on 


"the  frugal  housewife."  225 

myself,  and  risk — two  lives,"  slie  said,  softly. 
"  Poor  baby !  what  a  frail  little  creature  sbe 
was ! " 

"  As  far  as  I  understand  economy,"  said  Mrs. 
Henderson,  pausing  to  sum  up  in  her  mind  the 
whole  conversation,  which  had  lengthened  itself 
far  beyond  any  they  had  ever  held  before,  "  it  is 
not  in  any  one  grand  sacrifice  or  demonstration, 
but  a  constant,  careful  exactness  in  all  expendi- 
ture of  time,  health,  and  money.  Most  people 
think  it  applies  to  money  alone  ;  but,  as  you  said, 
it  is  the  hand  of  the  diligent,  and  not  of  the  nig- 
gard, or  the  slothful,  or  the  proud,  that  maketh 
rich.  You  will  have  to  use  a  double  diligence  in 
watching  all  these  avenues,  than  that  required  to 
hoard  in  one  expense  that  the  amount  may  be 
recklessly  or  even  thoughtlessly  wasted  in  othei's." 

"  I  know  I  wasted  time,  for  one  thing,"  said 
Mrs.  Cooper,  self-accusingly.  "I  used  to  be  so 
tired  out  that  I  did  not  feel  like  walking  or  play- 
ing with  Johnny,  or  any  thing  but  taking  a  book 
and  going  to  bed." 

"  The  worst  thing  in  the  world  for  your  health." 

"  I  know  it — for  my  temper,  at  any  rate — for 
10* 


226  THE  C0OPEE8. 

it  was  so  bard  to  rouse  myself  at  the  right  time ; 
and  things  would  go  wrong  in  the  kitchen ;  and 
Murray  said,  and  I  felt,  that  I  was  not  at  all  like 
my  old  self;  and  then  I  would  give  up  trying  for 
days  together." 

"Well,  in  preaching  order  and  regularity,  I 
have  let  you  go  without  your  chocolate  half  an 
hour  longer  than  you  should  have  done ;  so  there 
is  an  example  of  being  over-zealous  to  take  with 
you  as  a  warning.  Not  another  word ;  you  really 
must  have  it  at  once."  And  Mrs.  Cooper  was  left 
to  lay  to  heart  what  she  chose  of  all  that  had  been 
spoken  with  an  earnest  purpose,  convinced  of  one 
thing  at  least,  that,  but  for  Mrs.  Henderson's  wil- 
ling help,  this  long  sickness  and  uselessness  would 
have  drained  their  income  of  far  more  than  she 
had  saved  in  bringing  it  on. 


■^^' 


CHAPTER  X. 

MATCH-MAKING. 

The  best  laid  schemes  of  mice  and  men 
Gang  aft  agley. — Buens. 

Few  people  can  realize  all  they  arrange. — ^Batlbt. 

Mb.  Hendekson  was  quite  "  the  friend  of  the 
family,"  and  especially,  since  his  mother  had  been 
staying  with  the  Coopers,  began  to  be  considered 
as  entirely  one  of  themselves.  It  was  a  matter  of 
coui-se  that  he  should  come  out  to  dinner  on  Mrs. 
Cooper's  birthday,  the  20th  of  November ;  and 
she  had  almost  forgotten  to  give  the  invitation, 
until  reminded  of  it  by  her  husband,  a  few  even- 
ings before.  "  I  am  to  be  down  staire  for  the  first 
time,  you  know — quite  a  grand  occasion  ;  so  you 
must  be  sure  to  come,"  she  said  to  him. 

"  Without  fail — especially  as  mother  thinks 
she  must  leave  for  home  the  next  Tuesday." 


228  THE  COOPEKS. 

Mrs.  Cooper's  sigh  was  audible.  "  Yes,  I 
know ;  but  what  in  the  world  am  I  going  to  do 
without  her  ? " 

"  As  you  did  before  you  knew  her,  I  suppose," 
said  Mr.  Cooper.  "  Though  I  must  say  I  feel  just 
as  you  do." 

"  Better  than  then,  I  hope  ;  but  I  don't  know." 
Mi*6.  Cooper  was  slow  to  ti'ust  her  good  resolu- 
tions; they  had  been  broken  through  so  often. 
"If  she  was  only  going  to  be  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, where  I  could  see  her  once  in  a  while,  and 
go  to  her  with  my  bothers.  I  wish  you  would 
marry,  Mr.  Hendei*son,  and  bring  her  to  live  here. 
I  wonder  you  don't  marry.  I  often  say  so  ;  don't 
I,  Murray  ? " 

It  did  seem  a  sti-ange  thing  that  a  man  of  Mr. 
Henderson's  domestic  habits,  with  gentlemanly 
manners  and  refined  taste,  should  continue  to  live 
on  so  quietly,  without  even  a  preference. 

"  Shall  I  tell  you  why  ?  My  chief  reason  is 
that  I  should  not  desire  to  choose  a  wife  purely 
for  her  economical  qualities — a  good  thing  in  a 
housekeeper  ;  but  that 's  not  my  idea  of  a  wife. 


MATCH-MAKING.  329 

Still,  it  would  be  all  I  could  afford  to  look  to  on 
six  hundred  a  year." 

Mrs.  Cooper's  cheeks  flushed  with  the  thought 
that  she  had  made  a  very  inconsiderate  speech, 
when  she  knew  that  half  of  his  income  was  rigidly 
devoted  to  his  mother  and  sisters. 

"  You  ought  to  look  out  for  the  spoons,"  said 
Mr.  Cooper. 

"  As  you  did,"  said  his  wife,  knowing  very 
well  that  he  never  had  a  mercenary  thought  in 
his  life,  and  perfectly  understood  that  she  had  no 
property  before  he  addressed  her. 

"  TJiat  I  never  would  do,"  said  Mr.  Henderson, 
with  a  very  decided  emphasis.  "  I  would  never 
be  indebted  to  any  woman  for  a  dollar.  It  is  re- 
versing the  order  of  things.  I  should  despise  my- 
self, and  expect  her  to  share  in  the  feeliug.  Be- 
sides, inequality  of  this  sort  always  makes  unhap- 
piness.  I  never  forget  the  man  whose  wife  always 
threw  up  the  odd  two  and  sixpence  whenever  they 
quarrelled." 

"  I  believe  we  are  happier  for  the  charming 
equality  of  our  fortunes,"  said  Mr.  Cooper,  "  ex- 
pressed by  a  cipher  on  both  sides." 


230  THE  COOPEKS. 

"  You  Lad  only  yourselves  to  think  for."         ' 

"That's  so,  Henderson." 

"  And  I  could  not  expect  to  be  helped  in  one 
duty  if  I  neglected  another  very  plain  one  to  take 
it  up.  No.  As  I  am  rather  fastidious,  and  desire 
taste,  and  refinement,  and  education,  and  good 
principles  in  any  one  I  choose,  or  who  would 
choose  me  as  a  lifelong  friend,  I  suppose  I  shall 
go  on,  as  little  Johnny's  bachelor  uncle,  till  the 
end  of  the  chapter." 

"  Or  till  Cooper  &  Henderson  make  their  for- 
tunes," said  the  other  partner  of  this  recently  es- 
tablished house. 

"  Perhaps  he  tliinks  that  amounts  to  the  same 
thing."  Mrs.  Cooper  spoke  jestingly  ;  but  did  so 
to  cover  the  feeling  that  was  very  evident  in  Mr. 
Henderson's  face.  Her  careless  words  had  called 
up  an  old  struggle,  in  which  he  had  done  battle 
many  times.  Always,  when  with  them,  seeing 
his  friends'  content  and  happiness,  longing,  rather 
than  envy,  was  stirred  in  his  heart.  He  never 
doubted  that  Providence  had  appointed  him  this 
isolated  life ;  but  it  was  none  the  less  hard  to 
human  nature  to  crush  the  yearning  for  his  own 


MATCH-MAKING.  231 

fireside,  for  tlie  dream-wife  and  children  that 
oftentimes  haunted  his  lonely  hours.  Fortunately, 
he  was  thrown  so  seldom  into  the  society  of  culti- 
vated women,  that,  as  yet,  he  had  not  been  forced 
to  sacrilice  real  affection ;  and  this  was  in  part 
owing  to  the  jealous  watch  which  he  kept  over 
any  word  or  deed  that  might  lead  him  into  the 
temptation.  Of  late,  he  had  grown  very  weary 
of  this  constant  battle  between  duty  and  inclina- 
tion. He  suffered  himself  to  think  of  the  time 
when  he  too  might  have  a  home,  and  in  it  see  his 
mother  winning  the  love  and  confidence  of  his 
wife — ^lier  daughter — there  was  music  in  the  two 
words — as  he  knew  she  had  done  with  Mrs. 
Cooper. 

"  Whoever  I  might  choose,  she  could  not  fail 
to  be  a  noble  woman  with  mother  for  a  friend  and 
example,"  he  said,  to  himself,  that  night,  every 
long  repressed  hope  and  desire  springing  up 
afresh  ;  and  a  lonely,  desolate  yearning  clamored 
to  be  heard  and  satisfied,  warning  him  that  youth, 
nay,  that  the  prime  of  his  manhood,  was  passing. 
It  was  very  hard  to  kneel  down  and  pray,  ere  he 
slept,  as  he  had  done  ever  since  he  had  been  a 


232  THE   000PEK8. 

little  child  at  his  mother's  knee,  "Thy  will  be 
done."  But  it  was  a  remembrance  of  that  child- 
hood, and  his  mother's  self-denying,  toiling  life 
for  him  and  his  little  sisters,  that  gave  him  the 
victory ;  and  he  put  the  temptation  aside,  with 
the  resolve  that,  so  long  as  she  lived,  she  should 
never  know  another  hour  of  care  so  far  as  he 
could  shield  her  from  it. 

Mr.  Cooper  took  up  the  book  of  house  expenses 
as  Mr.  Henderson  left  the  room.  He  was  very 
exact  in  his  entries  now,  and  laid  great  stress  on 
having  every  dime  included. 

"  Mrs.  Henderson  was  talking  about  him,  the 
other  day,  and  wishing  he  would  marry,"  said  his 
wife,  returning  to  the  conversation. 

"  He 's  not  a  marrying  man.  He  would  not 
care  to  give  up  his  ways  for  any  woman  ;  and 
children  would  drive  him  distracted.  He 's  in  a 
perpetual  '  frame  of  mind,'  at  the  office,  because  I 
don't  lay  every  pen  straight,  and  cut  the  postage- 
stamps  to  a  hair." 

"  I  don't  believe  it  is  that  so  much,"  said  Mrs. 
Cooper,  with  a  woman's  penetration.  "  Mrs.  Hen- 
derson said  it  was  the  cliief  anxiety  she  had  now, 


MATCH-MAKING.  28S 

being  a  weight  upon  him,  and  keeping  him  single. 
I  thought  they  could  all  make  one  family,  and  so 
perhaps  he  could  afford  it ;  but  she  doesn't  believe 
in  that." 

"  No  ;  nor  I,  either.  Tliere  never  was  a  house 
large  enough  yet  for  a  mother  and  daughter-in- 
law." 

"  I  think  it 's  a  great  pity.  He  would  make 
such  an  excellent  husband  !     I  wish — " 

"  What  ? "  asked  Mr.  Cooper,  with  his  finger 
upon  an  entry.  "  Lamb,  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  ! " 

"  Well,  it  came  into  my  mind  what  a  good 
thing  it  would  be  if  he  could  fancy  Lizzie  Grant." 

"  Don't  turn  into  match-making,  Matty.  Hor- 
rors !  It  would  be  the  worst  thing  he  could  do, 
for  she  never  would  fancy  him." 

"  I  know  they  are  not  in  the  least  alike  ;  but 
she  only  needs  some  one  to  control  her.  She  has 
an  excellent  heart.    You  know  how  I  love  Lizzie." 

"  She  would  get  the  whip  hand  of  me.-  '  Con- 
trol ! '  I  should  think  she  did  !  a  girl  that  has 
had  her  own  money  and  her  own  way  for  six 
years  !    If  Steve  Henderson  ever  marries,  it  will 


Wm  THE  COOFEBS. 

be  some  one  built  on  his  mother's  model — sensible 
to  the  last  degree,  as  steady  as  a  mill-race." 

"  Well,  I  don't  suppose  they  would  fancy  each 
other.  She 's  so  gay  and  lively  ;  but  then  she  's 
so  like  a  sister,  and  always  has  been,  that  it  would 
make  me  perfectly  happy.  And  she  has  money 
enough  for  both  of  them." 

"  You  heard  what  he  said  to-night  about  that ; 
and  he  never  says  any  thing  he  doesn't  mean." 

Mrs.  Cooper  was  forced  to  confess  to  herself 
that  there  was  very  little  probability  of  such  an 
event ;  yet  she  could  not  put  the  fancy  out  of  her 
mind.  Lizzie's  property  seemed  to  solve  the 
whole  difficulty ;  not  that  she  would  desire  any 
one  to  marry  for  money — ^far  from  it ;  only,  if 
tliey  should  faU  in  love  with  each  other,  how  nice 
it  would  be  to  have  Lizzie  as  good  as  a  relation, 
and  Mr.  Henderson  relieved  of  all  pecuniary  care ! 
Tliere  was  no  harm  in  bringing  them  together,  at 
any  rate  ;  for,  strange  as  it  might  seem,  they  had 
never  happened  to  meet,  though  both  were  per- 
fectly familiar  with  each  other  through  their  mu- 
tual friends. 

"  Don't  fail  to  come  on  the  20th — ^Murray,  re- 


MATCH-MAZING.  235 

mind  him  of  it — the  day  before  Thanksgiving ; 
so  you  need  not  think  of  going  back  to  town  be- 
fore Friday.  Miss  Grant  is  to  be  here.  That 's 
all  besides  yourself." 

"  Miss  Grant  ?  is  she — oh  I  "  The  tone  ex- 
pressed disappointment,  and  even  annoyance.  It 
would  be  so  near  the  time  for  his  mother  to  leave 
them,  that  he  had  looked  forward  to  having  her 
all  to  himself.  A  stranger  would  destroy  the 
familiar  household  talk  he  so  much  enjoyed,  and 
be  a  restraint  upon  every  thing.  Moreover,  he 
had  taken  a  prejudice  against  Mrs.  Cooper's  inti- 
mate friend.  From  little  things  he  had  heard 
discussed  in  her  character  and  conduct,  he  fancied 
that  she  was  a  trifling,  fashionable  girl,  one  with 
whom  he  could  never  feel  at  ease,  and  who  would 
be  very  likely  to  hold  himself  and  his  mother  in 
that  well-bred  indifference  so  nearly  amounting  to 
contempt.  Still,  what  right  had  he  to  object? 
And  Thanksgiving  day  he  could  go  quietly  to 
church  with  his  mother.  The  family  were  not 
likely  to  join  them  ;  and  they  would  have  a  long 
walk,  afterwards,  all  to  themselves. 
J     Mi-s.  Cooper  anticipated  her  friends'  arrival 


236  THE   COOPERS. 

with  all  the  eagerness  of  a  child.  She  had  been 
an  invalid  so  long,  it  was  nearly  two  months  since 
she  had  left  her  room,  or  seen  any  one  out  of  the 
neighborhood.  She  wanted  to  show  Lizzie  the 
house  and  the  baby.  To  be  sure,  she  would  think 
the  house  very  small  and  plain  ;  and  she  did  not 
care  much  about  children,  though  she  was  con- 
tinually bestowing  some  dainty  piece  of  finery  on 
Johnny,  and  had  already  sent  her  namesake  that 
was  to  be,  Miss  Lizzie  Grant  Cooper,  "  the  sweet- 
est breath  of  a  cap  "  that  Valenciennes  and  em- 
broidery could  contribute  to  fashion. 

She  came  up  from  the  city  in  the  noon  train, 
with  Mr.  Cooper,  who  struck  for  a  half-holiday  in 
honor  of  the  grand  occasion,  and  was  to  have  the 
pleasure  of  taking  his  wife  down  stairs  for  the  first 
time.  Mr.  Cooper  was  fond  of  surprises  ;  and  his 
heart  had  been  set,  for  a  week  pact,  in  getting 
some  pretty  curtains,  made  and  put  up  in  place 
of  the  brown  hoUand  shades  that  had  looked  very 
bare  and  cool  in  the  parlor  ever  since  the  grate 
had  come  into  use. 

Mrs.  Cooper,  on  the  verge  of  impatience, 
thought  Mrs.  Henderson  never  would  be  thi'ough 


MATCH-MAKING.  237 

down  stairs  that  morning.  Plum-puddings  must 
take  a  great  deal  more  time  than  she  had  any 
idea  of,  especially  when  all  the  fruit  was  prepared 
days  beforehand.  Oh  dear,  if  Lizzie  should  come 
before  the  baby  and  Johnny  were  dressed,  she 
should  be  miserable  for  the  day !  Babies  were 
nothing  in  their  night-clothes,  especially  to  people 
who  did  not  understand  them.  She  walked  to 
the  head  of  the  stairs,  and  listened.  Every  thing 
was  quiet  in  the  kitchen.  She  hoped  dinner  was 
not  going  wrong.  Lizzie  was  so  accustomed  to 
the  best  of  every  thing,  she  was  thankful  that  the 
responsibility  did  not  come  on  her.  But  Mrs. 
Henderson  came  back  just  in  time,  and  emerged 
from  the  parlor,  instead  of  the  kitchen,  when  she 
did  make  her  appearance.  Fortunately,  Mrs. 
Cooper  had  gone  to  her  room,  and  did  not  see  it. 

She  was  quite  dressed,  her  wrapper  laid  aside 
for  the  first  time,  and  resting  on  the  lounge,  after 
the  little  fatigue  consequent  upon  accomplishing 
this  unassisted,  when  the  whistle  announced  the 
arrival  of  the  train.  It  was  delightful  to  feel  so 
like  herself  again  ;  and,  but  for  Murray's  express 
prohibition,  she  would  have  flown  down  the  stairs 


238  THE  C00PEB8. 

to  welcome  them.  Mrs.  Henderson,  who  had  just 
completed  the  baby's  toilet,  and  had  not  given  a 
thought  to  her  own,  watched  the  meeting  between 
the  two  friends,  her  soft  brown  eyes  bent  upon 
Miss  Grant,  half  in  pleasure  at  the  affection  the 
two  expressed  for  each  other,  and  half  in  scrutiny 
to  see  whether  the  younger  lady  was  worthy  of  it, 
as  she  first  became  conscious  of  her  presence. 

"  This  is  Mrs.  Henderson,  Lizzie,"  said  Mrs. 
Cooper,  quickly,  lest  her  kind  friend,  in  her  plain 
morning-drSss  and  apron,  should  be  taken  for  the 
nurse,  and  an  unpleasant  contretemps  be  brought 
about.  She  was  a  little  uneasy  about  the  meeting, 
too.  Mrs.  Henderson's  manner  was  so  very  plain, 
though  distinguished  by  that  true  courtesy  which 
springs  from  right  principle  ;  and  her  natural  tact 
supplied  the  place  of  much  intercourse  with  formal 
society.  Still,  Lizzie  was  very  gay,  very  fashion- 
able ;  and  of  course  she  could  not  be  expected  to 
know  or  appreciate  Mrs.  Henderson's  good  quali- 
ties. Miss  Grant  waa  all  this, — a  little  vain  and 
selfish  besides, — a  little  spoiled  by  prosperity ; 
and  her  naturally  wilful  disposition  was  entirely 
unchecked.    Still,  she  was  not  supercilious  ;  and 


MATCH-MAKING.  239 

she  gave  lier  hand  to  Mrs.  Henderson  with  frank 
cordiality. 

"  My  dear,  isn't  that  the  mother  of  your  'Ad- 
mirable Crichton '  ? "  said  she,  a  moment  after,  as 
the  elder  lady  left  them  to  themselves. 

Mr.  Cooper  had  hurried  down  stairs  again, 
after  kissing  his  wife,  to  have  eveiy  thing  ready 
for  her  descent,  he  told  her. 

"It's  really  odd  I  never  have  happened  to 
meet  that  remarkable  piece  of  masculine  perfec- 
tion." 

"  You  will  have  a  chance,  then.  We  expect 
him  out  to  dinner  to-day." 

Miss  Grant's  liveliness  vanished  for  a  moment. 
Mrs.  Cooper  thought  how  very  like  the  disap- 
pointed expression  was  to  Mr.  Henderson's  when 
he  was  told  that  she  would  be  a  guest.  Miss 
Grant  did  not  consider  it  necessary  to  be  silent  as 
to  hers,  however.  In  fact,  one  thing,  often  brought 
against  her  by  those  who  did  not  like  her — and 
they  were  not  a  few — was  that  she  always  said 
every  thing  that  came  into  her  mind,  without 
pausing  to  consider  who  might  be  hurt  or  offended 
by  it. 


Stti  THE  COOPEBS. 

"  It  can't  be  helped,  I  suppose  ;  but  I  shall  be 
as  dull  as  possible.  I  expected  to  have  a  grand 
good  time  with  you  and  Murray,  I  haven't  seen 
you  in  so  long,  and  have  such  quantities  to  tell 
you,  all  about  Newport  and  Saratoga.  You 
haven't  heard  a  word  yet.  Oh  !  and  Ellen  Schro- 
der's wedding — and  Tom  Nichols  is  engaged  at 
last ;  did  you  know  it  ?  If  it  was  any  body  in 
the  world  but  him.     I  hate  perfect  people." 

Mr.  Cooper  appeared  while  she  was  rattling 
away,  brushing  out  her  bandeaux  before  the  dress- 
ing-glass at  the  same  time. 

"  You  see  I  have  on  my  last  new  dress.  Isn't 
it  charming,  that  border  around  the  flounces  ?  Yon 
must  have  a  green  one  I  saw.  No  ;  you  're  too 
pale  for  green  now.  You  can  afford  a  pink  hat 
this  winter,  if  you  keep  up  the  invalid.  Murray, 
how  you  neglect  your  wife  ! — only  one  kiss  since 
you  came  home  !     She  's  as  pale  as  a  ghost." 

Tlie  charge  of  neglect  was  entirely  unfounded, 
as  Miss  Grant  was  forced  to  acknowledge,  when 
she  saw,  the  next  moment,  how  carefully  he 
wrapped  her  shawl  around  her,  slipping  a  crimson 
tea-rose  into  her  hair — she  wore  no  cap,  to  please 


MATCH-MAKING.  241 

him — and  then,  lifting  her  in  his  arms  as  ten- 
derly as  if  she  had  been  a  child,  carried  her  off 
from  Miss  Grant,  still  talking  nonsense,  and  ar- 
ranging her  dress. 

"  Now  shut  your  eyes  till  I  put  you  in  your 
own  chair.  You  will  be  dizzy — there."  And  she 
was  desired,  in  the  next  breath,  to  "  open  them, 
and  see  what  she  could  see." 

"  Oh,  Murray !  curtains  and  a  new  piano 
cover ! — how  much  they  furnish  the  room  ! — ^how 
pretty  they  are ! — ^how  did  you  manage  ?  Does 
Mrs.  Henderson  know  ? " 

"  Rather,"  said  Mr.  Cooper  rubbing  his  hands 
delightedly,  and  quite  satisfied  with  her  astonish- 
ment and  pleasure.  "  Considering  I  had  to  leave 
her  to  finish  putting  them  up,  this  morning,  you 
would  keep  me  talking  about  that  Rochester  con- 
signment, and  making  me  explain  to  you  how  we 
happened  to  make  some  money  for  once  in  our 
lives.  I  thought  you  were  going  to  spoil  it  all, 
last  night." 

"Last  night?" 

"  Yes — wanting  to  know  what  the  man  was 
bringing  in  when  I  came  from  the  depot.  Mrs. 
11 


242  THE  COOPERS. 

Henderson  agi-eed  to  keep  you  from  the  window ; 
but  your  ears  are  so  terribly  sharp  1 " 

"  I  wondered  what  you  were  opening  and  shut- 
ting the  parlor  for,  when  it  was  tea  and  soap. 
You  are  very  kind,  Murray.  They  are  just  what 
I  wanted.    It's  the  nicest  of  birthday  presents." 

"  Oh,  those  are  only  to  coax  you  into  house- 
keeping again,  and  because  you've  been  a  good 
patient  wife,  and  two  or  three  other  things !  You 
shall  choose  your  own  birtliday  gift  from  me  when 
you  go  to  town.     Here  is  Johnny,  with  his." 

Katy  set  her  charge  down  by  the  door,  with  a 
parting  twitch  of  his  white  apron,  and  shake  of 
the  little  full  skirts.  Even  the  loss  of  his  curls 
could  not  make  Johnny  a  plain  child;  and  his 
large  eyes  were  full  of  sui-prise  and  pleasure  at 
seeing  his  mother  down  stairs  again.  The  little 
fellow  ran  straight  towards  her  with  open  arms, 
holding  out  a  bouquet  he  had  been  privately  in- 
trusted with.  His  kiss  and  clinging  arms  were  all 
the  fondest  mother  could  have  desired. 

"  She  doesn't  deserve  the  pretty  flowers,  John- 
ny ;  she  slanders  you ;  she  says  you're  not  fond  of 
her,"  said  Mr.  Cooper,  hanging  over  the  two. 


MATCH-MAKING.  SUt 

"  Tableau  vivant  for  the  entertainment  of  in- 
vited guests,"  called  out  Miss  Grant,  as  she  made 
her  appearance.  "  It's  a  pity  that  I  am  the  only 
audience.  It's  all  very  well  before  people." 
Tr  "And  when  they  are  away,  as  you'll  come  to 
know  yet,"  said  Mr.  Cooper,  who  never  lost  an 
opportunity  of  threatening  Miss  Grant  with  matri- 
mony. 

Miss  Grant  drew  out  her  crochet-work,  and 
established  herself  on  the  lounge  in  a  most  defiant 
attitude. 

"  If  you've  kissed  your  wife  sufficiently  for  the 
present,  Mr.  Cooper,  you  will  oblige  us  greatly 
by  taking  yourself  off  until  we  are  forced  to  be 
bored  with  that  paragon  who  is  coming  up  in  the 
early  train.  It  must  be  almost  time  to  escort  him 
from  the  depot.  Form  yourself  into  a  guard  of 
honor,  and  march  forthwith." 

"  Come,  Johnny ;  they  don't  want  us  here. 
Put  mamma's  flowers  into  the  vase ;  and  we  will 
go  and  have  a  walk  by  ourselves.  Johnny  wants 
to  ride  in  his  little  carriage,  with  papa  for  a  pony, 
so  he  does.  Tell  Katy  to  get  your  hat  and  coat, 
my  boy.     Never  stay  where  you  are  not  wanted." 


2M  THE   COOPERS. 

And  Johnny,  nothing  loth,  was  borne  off  on  papa's 
shoulder  to  be  equipped  for  an  excursion. 

It  was  quite  dusk,  in  the  short  November  day, 
before  Mr.  Henderson  was  ushered  into  the  par- 
lor where  the  two  ladies  still  sat,  Miss  Grant  pour- 
ing forth  an  exhaustless  tide  of  news,  nonsense, 
and  clever  criticism  upon  what  she  had  seen  and 
read  since  they  were  last  together. 

Mr.  Henderson  could  not  account  for  the  un- 
usual tremor  which  stole  over  him  as  he  found 
himself  at  his  friend's  threshold.  He  was  always 
diffident,  at  first,  in  the  society  of  ladies ;  but  this 
was  an  unusual  amount  of  stupidity  and  self-con- 
sciousness, amounting  to  decided  embarrassment, 
as  he  was  presented  in  the  dark  to  Miss  Lizzie 
Grant.  He  saw,  by  the  red  glow  of  the  fire,  a 
slight,  almost  childish  figure,  curled  up  in  a 
school-girl  attitude,  on  one  corner  of  the  lounge, 
her  feet  hidden  under  her  voluminous  flounces. 
Miss  Grant,  starting  from  her  careless  attitude, 
could  make  out,  in  the  shadow,  where  he  stood, 
only  a  tall  dark  figure,  bowing  in  her  direction. 
But  his  voice,  as  she  sat  and  listened  in  the  few 
minutes  that  passed  while  Katy  brought  lights. 


MATCH-MAKING.  245 

had  a  depth  and  manliness  that  interested  her  in 
spite  of  all  resolves  to  dislike  him,  and  made  her 
wish  Kate  would  move  a  little  faster,  that  she 
might  see  what  manner  of  man  he  was.  Probably 
Mr.  Henderson  was  guilty  of  some  such  natural 
curiosity  with  regard  to  herself;  for,  when  the 
lamp  was  brought  in,  she  met  his  eyes ;  and,  if 
Mr.  Cooper  had  seen  the  start  and  withdrawal  of 
both  wandering  glances,  he  would  have  "  spared 
neither  age  nor  sex"  for  the  remainder  of  the 
evening.  Fortunately  for  them,  he  was  at  that 
moment  busily  employed  in  dressing  celery  in  the 
dining-room,  to  which  they  were  summoned,  di- 
rectly after. 

Mrs.  Cooper  seated  herself  beside  her  husband," 
declaring  that  she  was  only  an  invited  guest,  and 
that  Mrs.  Henderson's  reign  as  housekeeper  did 
not  end  before  Saturday  night,  begging  every  one 
to  understand  that  any  fault  of  the  dinner  was  not 
to  be  laid  to  her  charge.  "  For  once,  I  intend  to 
enjoy  a  meal  at  my  own  table,  irrespective  of 
burned  turkey  and  spoiled  sauces.  Don't  appeal 
to  me,  Murray,"  she  said,  gayly.  She  had  not 
felt  60  light-hearted  in  many  a  day  ;  and  the  little 


246  THE  COOPEES. 

excitement  gave  a  tinge  of  color  to  her  cheek,  and 
brightness  to  her  eyes,  that  replaced  the  freshness 
of  her  girlhood. 

Tiny  was  obliged  still  to  be  waiter  as  well  as 
cook,  Kate  being  detailed  upon  nursery  duty. 
She  was  neatly  dressed  ;  her  careless  habits  never 
betrayed  themselves  in  her  person  ;  and  the  table 
was  laid  with  a  precision  that  betrayed  Mre.  Hen- 
derson's watchful  oversight.  The  whole  dinner — 
thanks  to  the  same — was  a  triumph,  and  showed 
such  a  progress  in  Tiny's  culinary  skill,  that  her 
mistress  began  to  take  heart  again. 

They  had  to  wait  an  extremely  fashionable 
length  of  time,  it  is  true,  between  the  courses, 
every  thing  depending  on  one  pair  of  hands  ;  but 
no  one  noticed  it,  in  the  light  jests  and  badinage 
of  Mr.  Cooper  and  Miss  Grant,  kept  from  abso- 
lute folly  by  Mrs.  Henderson's  presence,  and  an 
occasional  word  from  her,  thrown  in  by  way  of 
ballast. 

It  was  as  cosey  a  party  as  one  would  wish  to 
see,  lingering  over  their  dessert,  and  all  enjoying 
themselves  much  more  than  they  expected ;  though 
a  certain  reserve  in  Mr.  Henderson's  manner  to- 


MATCH-MAKING.  SM 

wards  Miss  Grant,  whenever  he  had  occasion  to 
address  her,  gave  her  the  uncomfortable  suspicion, 
now  and  then,  that  he  looked  on  her  childish  non- 
sense with  the  calmness  of  rebuke.  But  it  was 
Miss  Grant's  disposition  to  resent  any  such  un- 
called-for strictures  by  a  gayer  manner  still ;  and 
she  went  on  until  Mrs.  Cooper  was  forced  to  con- 
fess there  was  no  hope  whatever  of  her  cherished 
scheme,  and  wondered  what  Mrs.  Henderson  would 
think  of  such  "  prattle  and  tattle."  "  Hark ! "  said 
she,  as  even  Mr.  Henderson's  mirth  was  provoked 
by  a  wilder  sally  than  ever.  "  I  'm  sure  I  heard 
baby — hush,  Lizzie  ! — did  you,  Mrs.  Henderson  ? " 

"  'Now,  pray,  don't  commence  the  Mi-s.  Fair- 
bairn,  Matty.  I  shall  give  you  up  in  despair.  It 
is  perfectly  horrid ;  isn't  it,  Mr.  Henderson,  this 
listening  with  one  ear  up  stairs  all  the  while  you 
are  talking  to  a  person?  Don't  you  remember 
Mrs.  Fairbairn  ? " 

"  In  '  Inheritance,'  Miss  Ferrier's  novel ;  is  it 
not?" 

"  Yes,  Mrs.  Fairbairn — one  of  those  women 
who,  from  the  time  they  become  mothers,  cease 
to  be  any  thing  else." 


248  THE  C00PEE8. 

•I»  "I  remember.  'Their  husbands  are  hence- 
forth only  the  father  of  their  children,  their  brothere 
and  sistei-s,  their  uncles  and  aunts,' "  said  Mr. 
Hendereon,  taking  up  the  quotation  as  they  rose 
from  the  table. 

His  mother  stopped  a  moment  to  direct  Tiny, 
and  Mr.  Cooper  assisted  his  wife  up  stairs  to  see 
for  herself  that  the  baby  was  not  suffering  from 
any  cruel  neglect  or  maltreatment.  The  visitors, 
as  they  came  into  the  parlor,  and  stood  on  either 
side  of  the  fire,  found  themselves  quite  alone  for 
the  time. 

"  Matrimony  is  all  very  well  at  a  distance," 
and  Miss  Grant  shrugged  her  drooping  shoulders ; 
"  tea-roses,  and  new  curtains,  and  all  that !  But 
I've  staid  with  people,  and  seen  the  other  side  of 
the  picture." 

"  Seen  what  ? "  said  Mr.  Cooper,  coming  back 
to  them. 

"  '  Soap-box  empty  and  flour  out ! '  '  How  long 
have  we  had  that  barrel  of  flour,  Julia  ? " '  And 
Miss  Grant's  voice  assumed  the  injured  tone  with 
which  a  man  invariably  puts  that  question.  " '  We 
use  more  soap  in  our  family  than  it  ought  to  take 


MATCH-MAKING. 

to  wash  for  the  whole  city  ! '  Yes,  sir,"  and  she 
made  a  sweeping  courtesy  to  Murray ;  "  when 
you  lind  me  obliged  to  listen  to  such  little  matri- 
monial compliments,  I  give  you  leave  to  tell  me 
of  it." 

"  "We  shall  see  !  "  said  Mr.  Cooper,  provoking- 
ly.  "  All  bravado,  Henderson  ;  she  will  turn  out 
the  most  devoted  wife  and  mother  in  the  country, 
some  day." 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,  with  poor  Matty  as  an  awful 
warning  before  my  eyes."  And  she  gave  her 
flounces  a  composing  flutter  as  she  seated  herself 
at  the  open  piano,  and  began  singing,  defiantly, 

"  Liberty  for  me  ; 
No  man's  wife  Fll  be  !  " 

"  We  shall  live  to  see,"  chimed  in  her  adversary. 

Wiiatever  Mr.  Henderson's  opinion  on  the 
subject  was  he  kept  it  to  himself,  and  took  up  a 
volume  of  plans  for  Cottages  and  Yillas,  and  was 
deeply  absorbed  in  them  when  the  other  ladies 
returned.  As  they  gathered  around  the  table,  he 
found  Miss  Grant  next  to  him,  placed  there  by  an 
innocent  little  manoeuvre  of  Mrs.  Cooper. 


250  THE  OOOPEES. 

"  Do  you  like  the  country  ?  "  he  said,  prosily 
enough,  addressing  her  for  the  first  time. 

"  Don't  ask  her  ;  she  detests  it  next  to  matri- 
mony," said  Mr.  Cooper  for  her. 

"  Oh,  dear,  yes !  I  should  die  of  mud  and 
ennui.  I  wonder  Matty  has  survived  it  so  long. 
They  are  both  of  them  sick  enough  of  it,  if  they 
would  only  confess." 

"  Not  I.  We  expect  to  have  a  charming  win- 
ter ;  don't  we,  Murray  ?  " 

"  Of  course  we  do  ;  and  my  highest  ambition 
is  to  have  a  little  place  of  my  own.  I  think  I 
could  improve  on  some  of  those  things,  Hender- 
son. It 's  strange  how  a  man  alters  as  he  grows 
old" — Mr.  Cooper  would  be  thirty  on  his  next 
birthday ! — "  how  people  do  throw  themselves 
away  ;  young  men,  I  mean."  Mr.  Cooper  looked 
as  if  he  had  attained  to  all  the  wisdom  of  the  an- 
cients. 

"  After  all,  Henderson,"  and  he  threw  himself 
back  in  his  chair,  "  what  is  there  to  live  for  but 
to  take  care  of  one's  wife  and  children,  and  to  get 
a  snug  little  place  to  put  them  in  ?  " 

Mrs.  Henderson  had  taken  up  the  volume  her 
son  laid  down. 


MATCH-MAKING.  261 

"  Did  you  notice  this  last  view  of  all  ? "  she 
said  to  Mr.  Cooper. 

"  Yes ;  poetical  fancy,  isn't  it  ?  though  rather 
a  skeleton-at-the-feast  idea,  finishing  up  with  a 
design  for  a  grave." 

"  Shocking !  "  said  Miss  Grant.  "  Let  me  see. 
It's  lovely,  though,  isn't  it  ? " 

"  The  last  house  appointed  for  the  living,"  said 
Mr.  Henderson,  in  his  deep,  rich  voice ;  "  it  is 
very  appropriate  here." 

"  There  is  more  than  an  appropriate  fancy  in- 
tended by  the  designer,  I  think,  to  remind  people 
that  there  is  something  else  to  live  for  besides 
planting  and  building." 

One  thing  had  struck  Mrs.  Henderson  pain- 
fully, in  the  tone,  not  only  of  the  family,  but  the 
neighbors  who  dropped  in  most  frequently.  They 
seemed  to  live  so  entirely  for  this  life  ;  their  plans 
of  thriftiness  and  reform  all  ended  in  the  central 
point  of  self.  "  Wife  and  children,  and  a  place 
to  put  them  in."  Mr.  Cooper  had  expressed  it 
exactly.  They  all  said  :  "  I  will  plant  this  year, 
I  will  build  next,  I  will  ornament  and  improve  for 
years  to  come ; "  as  if  they  held  their  lives  in  fee, 


252  THE   COOPERS.  - 

and  no  one  could  dispute  the  possession.  She  had 
lived  to  see  -wealth  take  wings,  or  wife  and  child 
snatched  away,  making  every  thing  else  valueless ; 
and  what  provision  were  they  making  against  the 
evil  day,  or  to  render  "  tithes  of  all  they  possessed  " 
to  Him  who  alone  "giveth  us  the  power  to  get 
wealth  ! " 

It  had  been  a  burden  upon  her  heart,  many  a 
day,  that  the  two  she  had  come  to  love  as  her 
own  children  should  so  set  aside  the  highest  aims 
and  motives. 

She  could  not  tell,  even  then,  whether  hei 
grave  earnestness  had  availed  to  call  up  one  deep- 
er thought,  for  the  evening  passed  in  mirth  and 
music,  though  scarcely  so  trifling  as  it  had  been 
before.  Mr.  Henderson  talked  more,  though  not 
to  Miss  Grant,  and  as  Mrs.  Cooper  noticed  their 
studied  avoidance  of  each  other,  her  little  scheme 
flickered  and  died  out. 

"  "Well,  I  suppose  it  is  not  to  be,"  she  said, 
when  they  were  alone  together.  "  Mr.  Hender- 
son and  Lizzie,  I  mean,"  she  added. 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  so  ?  You  were  foolish  to 
think  of  it !     They  are  not  in  the  least  alike.   Ai-e 


MATCH-MAKING. 

you  very  tired,  dear  ?  Have  you  had  a  pleasant 
birthday  ? 

"  Oh,  yes,  how  could  I  help  it  ?  every  thing 
went  off  so  nicely.     You  are  very  kind,  Murray." 

"Well,  what  is  it  ? "  said  her  husband,  know- 
ing from  her  manner  that  there  was  an  unspoken 
afterthought. 

"  Don't  you  think  that  God  has  been  very  good 
to  us  this  year  ? "  she  said,  hesitatingly.  "  If  I 
feel  so  grateful  to  you,  I  ought  to  be  to  Him  for 
giving  you  to  me,  and  the  children,  and  this  dear 
little  home  ? " 

"  I  tell  you  what,  Matty,  when  Mrs.  Hender- 
son said  that,  about  something  else  to  live  for,  it 
made  me  feel — I  can't  tell  you  how — as  I  did  that 
day  when  poor  Uncle  Murray  was  buried.  What 
if  I  should  lose  you,  or  one  of  the  children  ? " 

"  Did  you  ?  Oh,  I  wish  we  were  truly  good, 
like  her !  and  then  we  should  not  care  so  much. 
I  feel  as  if  I  must  go  to  church  to-morrow,  and 
thank  God  for  saving  me  and  baby,  and  making 
us  all  so  happy.  May  I  ?  I  don't  think  it  would 
hurt  me  !     Will  you  go  with  me  ?  " 

Mr.  Cooper  stroked  her  hair,  as  she  looked  up 


254  THE  COOPEBS. 

eagerly  in  his  face  ;  his  eyes  were  full  of  thought 
as  well  as  tenderness. 

"  She's  a  good  woman  ;  there  must  be  some- 
thing in  it.  Yes,  we'll  go,  Matt3\  But  I  never 
went  to  church  on  Thanksgiving  day  before  in  all 
my  life." 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE    8EBVANT    QUESTION. 

"  The  servant  qnestion  is  one  of  the  social  problems  of  the  daj." 
If  thou  wooldst  hare  a  good  servant,  let  the  servant  find  a  good  master. 
Be  not  angry  with  him  too  long,  lest  he  think  thee  malicious ;  nor  too  soon, 
lest  he  conceive  thee  rash ;  nor  too  often,  lest  he  count  thee  hnmorons. — 
Quarkt. 

Me8.  Hendekson  was  really  going.  Her  trunk 
was  packed  ;  her  neat  travelling-dress  hung  alone 
in  the  wardrobe,  ready  for  the  next  morning's 
wear.  Her  gloves,  veil,  and  handkerchiefs  were 
laid  out  upon  the  dressing-table.  Mrs.  Cooper 
looked  around  the  room,  and  thought  how  char- 
acteristic even  these  little  preparations  were. 
Nothing  left  until  the  last  minute — nothing  to  be 
hunted  up — no  few  stitches  to  be  taken  bonnet 
in  hand.  Mre.  Henderson  was  as  much  at  liberty, 
this  last  evening,  as  if  there  was  no  journey  in 
contemplation,  and  had  gone  down  to  the  parlor 


256  THE  COOPERS. 

to  see  Mrs.  Phillips,  whose  neighborly  offices  had 
been  so  very  acceptable  during  Mrs.  Cooper's 
illness. 

Two  books  were  lying  upon  the  table,  one  of 
them  opened,  as  if  it  had  been  laid  down  at  the 
moment  of  going  to  the  parlor.  The  other  was  a 
showily  bound  Bible,  laid  in  the  guest  room,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  much  as  Mrs.  Cooper  could 
have  placed  a  mirror  or  a  footstool  there.  Evi- 
dently, it  was  still  as  fresh  as  when  one  of  her 
bridesmaids  brought  it  to  her,  a  wedding  gift. 
Mrs.  Henderson  had  used  it  that  morning,  her 
own  being  laid  away.  She  had  shown  it  to  Mrs. 
Cooper  the  day  before,  a  plain,  well-worn  copy, 
full  of  marks,  and  the  margin  pencilled  with  dates, 
or  some  striking  thought,  commenting  on  a  text, 
as  she  had  read.  Mrs.  Henderson's  clear  judg- 
ment, and  genial  philosophy  of  life,  had  been  re- 
marked by  all  at  "  the  Lodge,"  as  Mrs.  Cooper 
most  frequently  called  their  home.  "Whether  it 
should  be  "  Chestnut,"  "  Hawthorne,"  or  "  Elm- 
wood  "  Lodge,  was  still  under  discussion.  Either 
might  have  been  appropriate  from  the  surrounding 
foliage.     Miss  Grant  mockingly  proposed  "  Sweet 


THE   SERVANT   QUESTION.  257 

Syringa,"  as  suggested  by  the  lovely  domestic 
harmony  of  the  inmates,  or  "  Cooper  Institute," 
from  the  wisdom  the  head  of  the  family  was  sup- 
posed to  have  attained  to  ;  but  Lizzie  Grant  was  a 
privileged  person. 

Mrs.  Henderson's  wisdom  was  a  reality  ;  and 
here  she  had  gained  it.  Tliis  was  her  text-book ; 
prayer,  her  instructor.  It  was  described  in  those 
very  pages — "  pure,  peaceful,  gentle  " — "  unto 
all,  patience  and  long-suffering  with  joyfulness." 
Mrs.  Cooper  felt  it  more  and  more  to  surpass  all 
knowledge  of  society,  all  maxims  of  self-interest 
and  worldly  prudence  ;  yet  the  very  alphabet  was 
still  a  mystery  to  her.  She  closed  the  door,  and 
followed  Mrs.  Henderson  to  the  parlor  with  a 
heavy-hearted  feeling,  very  like  the  despondency 
of  the  past  summer.  The  house  was  all  in  exact 
order,  the  baby  asleep,  and  Johnny  playing  con- 
tentedly with  a  box  of  blocks.  How  long  would 
tranquillity  reign  when  her  friend  and  adviser 
had  gone  ?  Even  Mrs.  Phillips  noticed  her  de- 
pression, as  she  came  into  the  room.  "  You  will 
miss  Mrs.  Henderson  very  much,"  she  said,  coming 
forward  to  meet  Mrs.  Cooper  with  the  cordiality 


258  THE   000PEE9. 

of  an  old  friend,  "  I  have  just  been  telling  her 
that  I  wish  she  could  be  persuaded  to  make  her 
home  near  us." 

Mrs.  Phillips,  though  born  and  reared  in  afflu- 
ence, had,  from  the  first,  appreciated  Mrs.  Hen- 
derson fully  ;  and  this,  more  than  any  thing,  had 
established  the  friendly  feeling  which  her  kind 
offices  as  a  neighbor  had  brought  out  at  the  first 
of  Mrs.  Cooper's  illness. 

"  It  is  too  delightful  a  plan  ever  to  be  realized." 
And  both  ladies  felt  that  there  was  more  than 
empty  compliment  in  the  rejoinder. 

"  Mrs.  Cooper  dreads  household  cares,"  said 
Mrs.  Henderson,  pleasantly ;  "  and  I  have  relieved 
her  from  them  in  a  measure.  Oh,  I  did  not  say 
that  was  all ! "  she  added,  quickly. 

"  Mrs.  Phillips  knows  I  am  not  quite  so  selfish." 

"  Still,  it  is  very  natural,  my  dear.  I  well  re- 
member how  hard  it  was  to  look  after  my  children 
and  servants,  in  the  firet  years  of  my  housekeep- 
ing. I  had  three  so  nearly  of  an  age,  that  the  nui-se 
used  to  be  asked  if  the  two  youngest  were  not 
twins,  Mrs.  Parker  and  my  son  George." 

"  It  is  the  servants,  Mrs.  Phillips.     If  I  could 


THE  8EEVA2JT  QUESTION.  259 

only  come  upon  somebody  like  your  Joanna !  I 
don't  see  where  people  find  such  treasures.  I 
hear  of  them  every  now  and  then ;  but  I  never 
came  across  them." 

"  They  are  not  to  hafound^^^  said  Mrs.  Phillips. 

"  I  agree  with  you  there."  And  Mrs.  Hender- 
son smiled,  catching  at  once  the  meaning  of  this 
contradictory  assertion.  ; 

"  But  they  «/•<?,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  positively. 
"  There 's  your  cook.  I  heard  you  say  she  had 
been  with  you  five  years  ;  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  has 
had  hers — oh,  ages  !  " 

"  Three  years,  to  speak  within  bounds." 

"  Well,  that 's  a  great  while.  I  have  had  five 
in  the  same  length  of  time  ;  and  not  one  of  them 
suited  me." 

"  Good  evening,  ladies. "  The  door  opened 
suddenly ;  and  a  well-dressed,  self-assured  looking 
lady  came  sailing  into  the  room.  "  I  knocked, 
and  no  one  heard  me ;  so  I  took  the  liberty 
of  waiting  on  myself.  I  heard  Mrs.  Phillips' 
voice." 

"  I'm  sorry  it  was  raised  so  loud  as  to  be  dis- 
tinguished in  the  street." 


260  THE  COOPEES. 

"  But  it  wasn't  in  the  street,  only  on  the  door- 
step." 

Mrs.  Graves,  the  new  comer,  dropped  her 
blanket-shawl,  threw  off  a  pretty  rigolette,  and 
made  hei-self  quite  at  home.  It  was  her  style, 
wherever  she  found  herself ;  but  she  had  taken  a 
great  fancy  to  Mrs.  Cooper,  who  was  nearer  her 
own  age  than  any  one  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
had  resolved  to  be  "  intimate." 

"  I  ran  over  for  a  moment's  peace  and  quiet. 
The  boys  have  a  holiday  ;  and  then  I  regularly  go 
distracted.  Besides,  the  cook's  given  warning, 
because  I  took  the  liberty  of  inviting  company 
without  consulting  her ;  and  Ann  is  in  tlie  sulks 
because  she 's  going.  K  ever  you  hear  I  'm  in  an 
insane  asylum,  you  '11  know  what  put  me  there." 

"  I  've  managed  to  bring  up  seven  children, 
and  keep  out  of  one,"  said  Mrs.  Phillips,  who  had 
been  the  recipient  of  her  neighbor's  domestic  dif- 
ficulties for  a  year  past. 

"  Oh,  you  !  Your  children  are  born  with  such 
immense  bump  of  order,  that  their  very  playthings 
walk  off,  and  put  themselves  away  ;  and  you  have 
the  luck  of  finding  servants  that  haven't  a  fault. 


THE  SEEVANT  QUESTION.  261 

It's  no  trouble  to  you  to  keep  a  house  ;  it  keeps 
itself." 

"  Mrs.  Phillips  just  told  me,  though,  that  these 
wonders  of  servants  are  not  to  be  found.  I  agree 
with  her,  so  far  as  my  own  experience  goes." 

"  "Well,  mine  is  the  ditto  of  yours,"  said  Mrs. 
Graves,  swinging  her  rigolette  by  the  tassels. 
"  They  are  an  ungrateful,  impudent,  idle  set,  now- 
adays. All  they  want  is  high  wages  and  a  kitchen 
full  of  company.  I  'd  go  to  board  any  moment ; 
but  Mr.  Graves  won't  hear  of  it." 

""Well,  I've  tried  my  best."  And,  as  Mrs. 
Cooper  said  it,  she  caught  Mrs.  Hendereon's  glance, 
and  remembered  that,  by  her  own  confession,  she 
had  done  nothing  of  the  kind. 

"  Oh,  dear,  yes,  bo  have  I !  I  give  tremendous 
wages,  and  indulge  them  every  way.  That  doesn't 
do.  Then  I  'm  horribly  hard  with  tlie  next  set — 
screw  them  down  a  dollar  a  month — don't  allow 
them  to  go  out,  or  have  a  visitor ;  and  they  get 
sulky  and  discontented,  and  march  oif.  But  la, 
my  dear,  it's  so  all  the  world  over !  Every  body 
has  the  same  trouble." 

"Not  every  body,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  "for 


262  THE   COOPEES. 

then  I  would  not  mind  so  much.  Every  now  and 
then  Mr.  Cooper  comes  home  with  such  a  remark- 
able story  that  he  has  picked  up  among  his  busi- 
ness friends  ;  and  then  you  read  about  these  old 
family  servants,  who  are  so  devoted,  and  do  such 
wonderful  things.  For  my  part,  I  don't  see  where 
people  find  them." 

"  Mrs.  Phillips  just  told  you  they  were  not  to 
be  found." 

"  Well,  where  do  they  come  from,  then,  Mrs. 
Henderson?  *I  don't  understand  it  more  and 
more,'  as  my  Hariy  says." 

"  They  are  made,  trained,"  said  Mrs.  Phillips. 

"  I  wish  you  'd  enlighten  us  as  to  the  process. 
Don't  you,  Mrs.  Cooper  ?  We  would  take  some 
lessons." 

"  Like  every  other  study,  you  would  have  to 
bring  patience  to  help  you,  and  take  experience 
for  a  teacher." 

*'  But  we  must  make  a  commencement,"  said 
Mrs.  Cooper. 

"  That  is  true  ;  and — ^it  is  the  chief  thing,  after 
all — we  must  commence  with  ourselves." 

"  I  have  had  very  little  experience  in  '  servant 


THE   8EEVANT   QUESTION.  263 

troubles,' "  said  Mrs.  Hendei-son,  not  hesitating  to 
avow  in  saying  this  the  limited  scale  of  her  house- 
hold.    "  In  Kockland,  we  have  '  help.' " 

"  The  worst  of  all  hindrances  !  "  And  Mi's. 
Graves  threw  up  her  eyes  and  her  hands. 

"  They  often  are,  because  living  out  is  a  choice 
with  them  ;  and  places  are  more  plenty  than  girls 
to  fill  them.  They  seldom  stay  long  enough  at 
one  house  to  be  trained." 

"  How  trained  ?  I  want  to  find  girls  that 
know  their  business  before  they  come  to  you,  and 
go  straight  through  it,  and  make  no  trouble,"  said 
Mrs.  Cooper. 

"And  never  desire  to  go  out,"  added  Mrs. 
Graves.  "  They  have  no  business  to  go  out.  Com- 
pany ruins  them.     Extravagant,  idle —  " 

"  Do  you  know,  Mrs.  Graves,  I  always  thought 
servants  were  human  ? "  interrupted  Mi-s.  Phillips. 

"  "Well,  of  course  they  are.     Who  denies  it  ?  " 

"  It  *8  not  a  human  trait  to  need  no  recreation 
and  no  society.  Isn't  it  your  place  to  see  that 
both  are  well  chosen  ? " 

"  My  place  ?  No  !  "What  have  I  to  do  with 
my  servants'  visitors  ? " 


264  THE   C00PEE8. 

1  '"'  What  have  you  to  do  with  the  company  your 
children  keep  ? " 

"  It  isn't  a  parallel  case." 

"  But  it  is,  in  a  measure.  You  are  responsible 
for  every  member  of  your  family." 

"  For  my  children  ?  Yes."  Mrs.  Graves  al- 
lowed that,  though  conscious  that  she  was  often 
guilty  of  neglect.  Mrs.  Phillips  knew  that  she 
professed,  as  well  as  herself,  to  be  guided  by  the 
highest  motives  that  can  influence  any  one. 
"Guided"  would  scarcely  express  the  position 
Mrs.  Graves  held,  in  common  with  many  others. 
She  was  a  church-goer,  and  a  church-member,  a 
Sunday  Christian ;  but  she  never  thought  of  re- 
ligion as  having  a  positive  connection  with  her 
daily  life,  further  than  an  obedience  to  the  out- 
ward rules  of  morality. 

"  I  don't  see  where  you  get  it  from." 

"  I  rather  think  you  will  find  it  in  the  same 
book  in  which  you  learned  your  duty  to  your  chil- 
dren. If  we  were  not  responsible  for  our  servants, 
why  should  we  be  told  to  see  that  they  hallow  the 
Sabbath?" 

"  But  most  people  expect  more   on  Sunday 


THE   SERVANT   QUESTION.  265 

than  any  other  day,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper — "  a  better 
dinner,  and  the  children  more  carefully  dressed. 
Every  one  that  I  know  does." 
"     Mrs.  Graves  said  nothing.     Her   conscience 
could  not  clear  her  on  the  starting-point. 

"  I  have  sometimes  wished  that  there  was  no 
such  responsibility."  Mrs.  Phillips'  bright  face 
clouded  for  a  moment. 

"  Here  is  something  exactly  to  the  point,"  said 
Mrs.  Henderson,  who  had  been  turning  over  the 
leaves  of  an  English  magazine  lying  upon  the 
table.  Slie  had  come  upon  it  several  evenings 
before ;  and  there  was  a  pencil  mark  against  the 
paragraph,  which  she  had  made  in  the  hope  that 
Mrs.  Cooper  would  chance  to  see  it  after  she  left. 
"  Shall  I  read  it  ?  I  dare  say  you  will  think  it 
very  dull ;  but  it  goes  to  the  root  of  the  matter." 

"  Oh,  by  all  means,  if  it  is  going  to  help  us  !  " 

"  It  will  not  lighten  what  Mrs.  Phillips  has 
found  her  burden.  It  insists  upon  the  responsi- 
bility as  something  '  that  cannot  be  shaken  off,  or 
delayed,  or,  in  common  circumstances,  even  dele- 
gated,'    Shall  I  go  on  ? "     And  Mrs.  Henderson 

finished  the  paragraph  in  a  clear,  low  voice,  by 
12 


266  THE   C00PEE8. 

which  its  deep  significance  lost  nothing :  "  A  per- 
son is  introduced  into  our  household  as  a  servant. 
She  is  young,  we  shall  suppose,  and  therefore,  to 
a  considerable  extent,  of  unformed  character.  Her 
very  youth  and  inexperience,  however,  render  her 
the  more  susceptible  to  the  moral  influences  under 
which  she  may  be  brought,  whether  for  good  or 
evil.  Here,  then,  is  a  connection  formed,  the 
duties  springing  out  of  which  are  no  more  optional 
than  those  of  parents  to  their  children.  She  has 
been  brought  into  a  peculiar  society,  of  which  you 
are  the  responsible  and  recognized  head,  and  over 
whose  various  members  it  is  impossible  that  you 
shall  not  exert  an  influence  of  some  kind.  All 
authority  over  others  is  a  talent  with  which  we  are 
intrusted ;  and,  from  tlie  nature  of  the  relation, 
this  is  emphatically  true  of  the  mistress  of  a  family. 
How  much  may  be  done  by  you  to  check  the 
growth  of  evil  habits  I  to  encourage  the  formation 
of  good  ones  !  to  engraft  all  upon  a  living  root  of 
Christian  principle  !  How  much  may  be  done  by 
a  system  of  kindly  inetruction  to  add  to  the  young 
domestic's  stock  of  religious  knowledge  !  to  com- 
mend religion  hy  showing  its  hlessed  effects  in  siib- 


THE   SERVANT   QUESTION.  267 

duing  and  sweeteniny  your  temper!  in  making 
the  law  of  truth  and  kindness  preside  in  your 
whole  conversation  !  in  giving  you  moderation  in 
prosperity,  and  resignation  in  affliction  !  in  spread- 
ing a  genial  sunshine  upon  your  countenance,  the 
radiation  of  the  pardoned  soul,  and  the  holy  glad- 
ness that  is  within  !  and  not  the  least  in  the  hal- 
lowing and  cementing  influence  of  family  prayer ! 
The  obligation  is  only  deepened  when,  as  often 
happens,  the  young  servant  is  the  daughter  of 
poor  parents,  or  when  she  is  a  poor  orphan,  cast 
inexperienced  and  penniless  on  the  world.' " 

"  Oh  dear  !  "  groaned  Mrs.  Graves,  as  the  book 
was  laid  down — '•'  worse  and  worse.  It's  all  very 
fine  that  we  are  to  turn  parish  school-teachers  to 
every  ignorant,  awkward  soul  we  stumble  over  at 
an  intelligence  office  ;  but  who  believes  it  ? " 

"  It  sounds  as  if  you  had  written  it  yourself, 
and  laid  it  there  for  our  express  benefit.  Let  me 
see  the  magazine.  It 's  here,  after  all,  Mrs.  Graves ; 
but,  as  you  say,  ' who  believes  it ? '" 

"  It  is  something  forced  upon  us,"  said  Mrs. 
Phillips,  who  was  delighted  with  the  extract.  "  I 
shall  never  forget  the  horror  I  felt  when  poor 


268  THE  COOPERS. 

Eliza  died.  She  had  lived  with  me  two  yeare, 
and  her  illness  was  so  rapid  that  we  had  scarcely 
realized  her  danger  when  she  was  gone  !  She  was 
devoted  to  the  children,  and  it  was  a  great  loss  to 
me,  personally  ;  but  the  most  bitter  feeling  was, 
that  I  had  not  been  a  faithful  mistress.  I  could 
not  accuse  myself  of  any  great  lack  of  kindness 
or  consideration.  I  had  cared  for  her  body  ;  and 
there  it  lay  cold,  rigid,  stiffening  in  death.  What 
had  I  done  towards  the  life  she  had  entered  upon  ? 
I  shall  never  forget  that  pang  of  self-reproach, 
never ! " 

Mre.  Graves  did  not  feel  at  all  comfortable  at 
the  serious  turn  the  conversation  had  taken.  She 
wanted  to  hear  how  to  make  her  servants  do  their 
duty  to  her,  and  not  that  she  failed  in  hers  towards 
them. 

"  Oh,  if  people  choose  to  make  themselves 
miserable,  they  could  find  a  bed  of  nettles  to  walk 
over  any  day !  I  want  to  find  out  how  to  get  at 
one  of  those  perfect  machines  like  your  Jo  !" 

"  Do  you  suppose  she  has  no  faults  ?  Or,  that 
she  came  to  me  without  any  ?  " 

"  "Well,  tell  us  how  you  managed  to  cure  her 


THE   SERVANT   QUESTION.  269 

of  them.  ]S"o,  she 's  one  of  those  monsters  of  per- 
fection !  Faults  !  You  '11  be  trying  to  make  us 
believe  that  you  have  some  next." 

Mrs.  Phillips  was  accustomed  to  her  neighbor's 
style  of  conversation,  and  took  no  notice,  save  by 
a  smile,  of  this  last  speech,  until  Mrs.  Cooper 
joined  in  the  same  request. 

"  I  wish  you  would  tell  us  your  way.  How 
are  we  ever  to  learn  ?  There 's  your  cook,  for  in- 
stance ;  what  was  her  trouble  ? " 

"  She  was  very  untidy ;  so  much  so  that  I 
thought  the  first  month  I  should  never  be  able  to 
keep  her.  I  used  to  go  regularly  every  morning, 
while  she  was  making  up  her  own  room,  and  set 
out  every  dish,  that  was  not  what  it  should  be,  on 
a  table  in  the  middle  of  the  room." 

"  I  should  have  a  very  heterogeneous  collection 
if  I  tried  it  with  Tiny,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper. 

"  You  should  have  seen  mine  !  Sauce-boats 
with  two  spoonfuls  of  gravy,  bits  of  butter,  slops 
of  cold  tea,  unwashed  saucepans  !  Oh,  dear,  such 
a  state  as  those  closets  were  in  !  " 

"  It  wouldn't  do  to  try  tlie  experiment  with 
most  girls,"  said  Mrs.  Graves.     "  Kancy  would 


270  THE    CXX)PEE8. 

have  ordered  you  out  of  the  kitchen.  Why,  I 
never  think  of  going  near  it  when  they  are  at 
their  meals  ;  she  resents  it  so." 

"  Then  I  should  have  to  give  her  up,  that  is  all. 
I  should  not  be  just  to  Mr.  Phillips,  if  I  allowed 
waste  in  any  pai*t  of  his  house." 

"  But  I  always  feel  so  mean  if  I  go  poking 
and  prying  into  things ;  and  I  always  see  so  much 
I  don't  care  to  know  about." 

"  How  are  you  going  to  correct  them  then  ?  I 
always  tell  a  new  cook  that  once  a  day  she  may 
expect  me  to  take  a  general  survey  of  her  regions ; 
and  I  never  spare  commendations  where  they  are 
deserved." 

Mrs.  Cooper  thought  of  her  voyage  of  discovery 
on  the  day  of  Tiny's  illness.  How  disheartened 
she  had  been  to  find  the  tin  burned  off  the  set  of 
new  saucepans  they  had  bought  at  Berrian's ;  the 
handles  melted  from  the  measures  in  setting  them 
on  the  coals  to  boil  eggs  for  breakfast,  when  every 
thing  else  was  unwashed ;  the  ivory  handles  of 
the  knives  yellow  and  cracked  ;  a  heap  of  broken 
dishes  in  the  cellar ;  and  a  bundle  of  sheets  and 


THE   8EBVANT   QUESTION.  271 

pillow-cases  stained  with  mildew  from  lying  over 
after  they  had  been  damped  for  ironing. 

Mrs.  Phillips's  plan  of  daily  inspection  would 
have  prevented  much  of  this  ;  but  she  lacked 
courage  to  undertake  the  search  or  the  reproof. 
Like  Mrs.  Graves,  she  shut  her  eyes  deliberately 
to  many  things.  Her  chief  excuse  to  herself  and 
her  husband  had  been  want  of  time.  That  family 
sewing,  again  !  How  much  more  had  she  lost  by 
undertaking  to  do  it  herself !  Only  that  very 
morning  she  had  gone  through  the  house-linen 
and  bedding  with  Mrs.  Henderson.  The  best 
blankets  were  soiled  and  dingy,  by  lying  about 
in  the  dust,  until  it  suited  Kate's  convenience,  or 
Johnny's  whims  to  have  the  beds  made  ;  the  pil- 
low-cases were  "  melting,"  as  Tiny  expressed  it, 
where  she  had  used  acid  to  remove  the  mildew ; 
no  set  of  towels  or  napkins  was  complete,  not 
even  the  pretty  "  snow-drop  "  pattern  ;  they  had 
enlisted  into  foreign  service,  as  dish-cloths  and 
chamber  towels.  It  was  a  disheartening  review 
from  first  to  last,  convicting  Mrs.  Cooper  of  neglect, 
and  her  servants  of  gross  carelessness. 

"  I  often  blamed  the  girls  for  what  was  my 


272  THE  COOPEB8. 

own  fault  when  I  came  to  look  into  the  matter," 
Mrs.  Phillips  was  saying,  when  she  recalled  her 
thoughts  from  this  disagreeable  retrospect.  "  I  do 
80,  now.  But  I  mean  it  was  more  frequent  when 
I  began  to  look  into  the  matter  at  first." 

"  "Well,"  said  Mrs.  Graves,  "  your  talent  for 
humility  only  equals  your  housekeej)ing  propen- 
sities ;  mine  don't  run  in  either  direction.  I  pro- 
test to  the  last  that  it 's  the  place  of  my  servants 
to  know  their  business,  and  do  it  thoroughly. 
That 's  my  parting  shot ;  for  I  don't  intend  to  stay 
and  be  lectured  any  longer.  Mrs.  Cooper,  let  me 
know  when  I  have  no  such  risk  to  run,  and  we  '11 
have  a  comfortable  half  hour  together  berating 
the  whole  tribe  !  " 

Mrs.  Graves  made  a  pretty  movement  of  self- 
defence,  as  she  gathered  up  her  shawl,  and  hurried 
out  of  the  room,  using  as  little  ceremony  as  when 
she  had  entered  it. 

"If  '  berating '  would  do  any  good,"  Mrs. 
Phillips  called  after  her. 

"  I  wish  it  would,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper. 

"  Why  not  try  the  training  process  which  Mrs. 
Phillips  seems  to  succeed  with  ? " 


THE   SERVANT   QUESTION.  273 

"  It 's  just  as  you  say ;  girls  never  stay  long 
enough  to  be  trained." 

"  I  meant  another  class  from  those  you  have 
to  deal  with." 

"  But  you  see  how  we  city  people  change  !  " 

"  It  is  a  laijk  of  patience  and  consideration  on 
both  sides,  I  think,  Mrs.  Henderson." 

"  But  it  is  impossible  to  take  the  time  and  trou- 
ble your  plan  requires,"  Mrs.  Cooper  said,  in  reply 
to  Mrs.  Phillips. 

"  I  don't  think  it  would  cost  you  more  in  the 
end  than  changing  so  frequently." 

"  Nor  I,"  said  Mrs.  Henderson.  "  I  have  heard 
you  say  very  often  how  you  dreaded  to  change, 
the  time,  and  trouble,  besides  having  a  stranger 
in  the  household." 

"That's  true." 

"  And  then,  when  there  are  children,  you  run 
such  a  risk  of  bringing  them  into  contact  with  bad 
principles ;  a  fault  of  temper  is  much  less  to  be 
dreaded,  or  a  failing  that  can  be  cured  with  time 
and  patience.  Your  strictures  will  have  to  begin 
at  home,  though  we  are  the  gainers  there,  by  any 
12* 


274  THE   COOPERS. 

thing  indeed  that  enforces  self-control  and  dili- 
gence upon  us." 

"  But,  Mrs.  Phillips—" 

"  "Well,  ray  dear,  go  on." 

"  I  was  only  going  to  say  that  I  wanted  to  feel 
the  girls  had  some  interest  in  me  and  the  children. 
I  think  that  makes  all  things  go  smoothly." 

"  It  is  very  pleasant.  I  know  how  it  is  with 
Joanna,  especially ;  but  you  must  have  time  for 
such  a  feeling  to  grow.  Bribes  will  not  bring  it, 
or  gifts  or  indulgence,  and  then  flying  out  at  them 
when  you  find  the  next  minute  some  trivial  or  real 
neglect.  Time  and  uniform  friendliness  will,  in 
most  cases,  'fashion  one  of  those  trusty  family 
servants'  you  fancy  so  much." 

"  But  they  are  such  an  ungrateful  set,  as  Mrs. 
Graves  says." 

"  Not  in  general ;  and  if  a  person  proves  un- 
principled and  ungrateful,  it  is  no  more  than  our 
Master  meets,  and  has  infinite  long-suffering  with." 

Mrs.  Henderson's  face  lighted  with  that  pecu- 
liar expression  Mi's.  Cooper  had  so  often  noticed 
when  she  found  her  faith  the  mainspring  of  action 
or  feeling  in  another. 


THE   SERVANT   QUESTION.  275 

"  If  He  should  be  extreme  to  mark  what  is 
done  amiss,  who  of  us  could  abide  it !  "  she  said, 
gently.  "  If  we  could  but  remember  that,  in  all 
our  daily  and  social  trials  of  temper  and  taste  !  I 
often  wonder  when  I  see  people  exacting  so  much 
of  others,  passing  over  a  hundred  excellencies, 
and  treasuring  up  a  single  error  or  failing." 

"  It  has  checked  many  a  quick  word,  and  fret- 
ful fault-finding,"  said  Mrs.  Phillips,  "  for  me.  I 
believe  it  was  the  very  foundation  of  my  first  at- 
tempt at  training  Eliza.  But  if  w^e  take  only 
selfish  motives,  we  are  the  gainers  in  the  end.  I 
am  at  perfect  liberty  to  leave  home  at  any  moment, 
for  I  know  that,  unless  something  unusual  occurs, 
every  thing  will  go  on  much  the  same  as  when  I 
am  there." 

"  I  suppose  I  might  say  the  same  in  another 
sense  !  "  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  laughing.  "  Tiny  does 
wondei*s  now — but  it  is  only  Mrs.  Henderson's 
work  ;  so  does  Katy,  for  that  matter.  I  have  been 
trying  to  study  her  magic,  but  I  have  not  learned 
it  yet.  She  never  scolds,  and  is  not  forever  fol- 
lowing them  about.     I  can't  see  into  it." 

"  Perhaps  she  rules  by  '  the  law  of  kindness,' 


276  THE    CXX)PEKS. 

a  very  diflferent  code  from  the  absence  of  all  re- 
straint," said  Mrs.  Phillips,  as  the  deepening 
twilight  warned  her  of  the  gathering  about  her 
own  hearth  at  that  hour.  "I  hope  very  much 
that  we  may  see  her  again,  and  frequently." 

"  I  am  very  glad  the  conversation  took  this 
turn,"  said  Mrs.  Henderson,  as  they  went  up  to 
the  nursery,  after  their  visitors'  departure.  Every 
thing  was  quiet  there.  The  baby  was  in  one  of 
those  long,  unbroken  naps  that  are  such  blessings 
to  young  mothers,  and  Katy  carried  Johnny  to  the 
dining-room  for  his  bread  and  milk.  Under  Mrs. 
Henderson's  rule,  he  seldom  saw  the  interior  of 
the  kitchen ;  and  it  was  wonderful  how  much 
more  time  Katy  found  for  her  work  than  when 
she  had  full  liberty  to  stand  gossiping  with  Tiny, 
or  at  Tiny,  rather,  under  pretence  of  amusing 
Master  Johnny. 

"  There  is  one  thing  I  notice  about  Mrs.  Phil- 
lips," said  Mrs.  Cooper,  as  she  began  to  lay  the 
baby's  night-clothes  on  the  towel  horse  by  the  fire. 
"  She  always  has  something  to  say,  something  that 
does  one  good,  I  mean  ;  not  about  other  people's 


THE   SERVANT   QUESTION.  277 

dress  or  affairs,  and  not  often  about  her  own.  We 
asked  her  to-day,  you  know." 

"  I  dare  say  she  feels  the  responsibility  of  every 
such  encounter  as  this,  and  tries  to  turn  it  to  the 
best  advantage." 

"  I  believe  you  do,  Mrs.  Henderson." 

"  Perhaps  so.  It  becomes  a  habit  after  awhile ; 
though  every  one  knows  how  much  they  find  to 
reproach  themselves  with  daily."  Mrs.  Cooper 
sat  down  in  her  low  nursery-chair,  and  shaded  her 
face  with  her  hands,  leaning  down  as  she  did  so. 

"  You  are  tired ;  we  did  too  much  this  morn- 
ing.    Let  me  undress  the  baby." 

"  Oh,  no,  it  is  not  that ;  but  the  more  I  try  to 
do  right,  the  more  I  see  undone.  You  and  Mrs. 
Phillips  talk  as  if  we  were  actually  responsible 
for  every  thing  we  do,  or  think,  or  say,  or  have,  or 
do  not  have  !  That  is  what  tires  me.  I  am  so 
weary,  so  very  weary  of  myself,-  of  every  thing ! 
I  have  been  this  long,  long  time  !  " 

Mrs.  Henderson  waited  for  this  hysterical  burst 
of  feeling  to  subside.  "  I  long  more  than  you  can 
believe  to  comfort  you,  my  dear  child,"  and  she 
laid  her  hand  upon  the  bowed  head  before  her ; 


278  THE   C00PEK8. 

"  but  I  cannot  help  you  with  this  weight,  or  by 
telling  you  that  it  is  imaginary." 

"  But  what  am  I  to  do  ?  You  are  going  to- 
mon-ow,  and  I  shall  just  fall  back  into  the  old 
way,  and  make  Murray  miserable,  as  I  did  before." 

"  You  have  depended  on  my  help  ? " 

"  Oh,  you  know  I  have." 

"  Yes,  I  do ;  because  you  believed  I  was  right, 
and  could  counsel  and  assist  you  ;  that  I  was  dis- 
interested too — you  felt  that — and  that  my  desire 
to  help  you  was  real." 

"  Yes,  that  is  it.  I  have  rested  on  you  so,  you 
will  never  understand  how  much !  or  what  a  fi'iend 
in  need  you  have  been." 

"  I  have  a  friend  who  never  leaves  me,"  said 
Mrs.  Henderson,  her  voice  trembling  with  the  sud- 
den hope  that  she  might  lead  one  she  loved  so 
well  to  Him  also.  "  One  I  can  always  trust  and 
turn  to ;  sometimes  he  allows  us  to  feel  just  this 
ueed  when  he  is  ready  to  help  us.  We  should  not 
reach  out  for  his  strength  if  ours  did  not  utterly 
fail  us." 

But  she  said  no  more.  Not  when  they  sep- 
arated for  the  night,  though  the  burden  of  her 


THE   SERVANT   QUESTION.  279 

evening  prayer  was  for  a  blessing  on  the  home  she 
was  leaving ;  not  even  when  they  parted  the  next 
day,  though  it  might  be  for  a  lifetime. 

Mrs.  Cooper  tnmed  to  the  house  again,  with 
the  self-same  weight  upon  her  heart,  and  saw  Katy 
holding  Johnny  at  the  dining-room  window,  kiss- 
ing his  hands  after  the  vehicle  which  carried  Mi*s. 
Henderson  to  the  depot.  On  the  door-step  stood 
Tiny  gazing  after  it,  while  she  held  up  the  corner 
of  her  apron  as  if  it  had  been  applied  to  her  eyes 
recently. 

"  There  isn't  many  tlie  likes  of  her,  ma'am," 
she  said,  retreating  into  her  own  dominions. 

Mrs.  Cooper  went  to  her  little  one,  agreeing 
with  this  voluntary  sentiment  in  full.  Mrs.  Hen- 
derson had  stolen  in  to  kiss  her  little  charge  good- 
by,  while  the  family  were  still  at  the  breakfast- 
table.  Mrs.  Cooper  found  her  own  Bible  lying 
beside  the  child,  as  if  Mrs.  Henderson  had  felt 
where  she  would  first  turn,  and  a  bit  of  ribbon 
marked  some  page  she  had  evidently  intended  to 
be  searched  for  a  parting  message.  She  found  it 
by  the  pencilled  line  lightly  drawn  against  the 
veree  :  "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor,  and  I 
will  give  you  rest." 


CHAPTER  Xn. 


GIFT-MAKING. 


"  It  is  by  no  meuiB  a  misfortnne  to  be  born  In  Uiat  station  of  Ufe  where 
we  cannot  eat  our  cake,  and  bare  it  too." 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  made  a  grand  discovery. 
Somebody  finds  it  out  every  day  for  themselves, 
and  imagines  it  to  be  a  perfectly  original  theory.  It 
is  this,  that  we  enjoy  doubly  what  we  strive  for,  and 
that  the  pleasure  the  rich  find  in  the  gratification 
of  every  fancy  is  made  up  to  those  in  moderate 
circumstances  by  the  attainment  of  some  single, 
long-desired  object.  "  Don't  you  think  so,  too, 
Murray  ? "  she  said,  when  she  had  stated  her 
proposition  as  clearly  as  the  jar  of  the  train  and 
the  hiss  of  the  locomotive  would  allow.  She  was 
going  to  town  for  the  first  time  since  her  little 
daughter's  birth  ;  and  it  was  quite  an  event  to  her 
— ^going  on  a  very  pleasant  errand,  too — the  fit- 


"-  GIFT-MAKING.  281 

ting  of  the  silk  she  had  shown  Mrs.  Hendereon  ; 
and,  though  every  woman  exclaims  against  the 
annoyance  of  being  fitted,  every  soul  of  them  en- 
joys the  near  prospect  of  wearing  a  new  and  be- 
coming dress.  Besides  which,  she  was  to  choose 
her  birthday  present  from  her  husband,  according 
to  his  promise  on  the  day  of  their  dinner-party. 
After  much  grave  deliberation,  it  was  to  be  some- 
thing for  the  house.  She  had  decided  on  a  set  of 
candelabras.  She  found,  after  being  accustomed 
to  gas  and  a  chandelier,  that  it  was  almost  impos- 
sible to  light  their  parlor  for  any  thing  like  an 
evening  gathering  with  a  solar  lamp. 

"  K  there 's  any  thing  more  than  another  which 
makes  a  stiff  evening,  it's  an  ill-lighted  room. 
When  I  came  down  that  night  Lizzie  and  Mr. 
Henderson  were  here,  I  noticed  at  once  how  for- 
lorn it  was." 

"  I  thought  it  very  cheerful,  for  my  part,"  said 
her  husband. 

"  Oh,  I  had  candles  set  on  the  piano  at  once  ! 
but  we  had  nothing  but  the  chamber  candlesticks 
to  put  them  in  ;  and  that  would  never  do  with 
strangers." 


282  THE   C00PEE8. 

"  Any  thing  you  fancy.  It 's  nothing  to  me. 
I  only  want  something  useful,  of  course,  that  will 
last ;  and  things  of  that  description  are  always 
economical,  you  know." 

"  But  how  came  you  to  be  able  to  afford  to 
give  them  to  me  ? " 

"  That 's  my  affair.  Have  you  any  idea  what 
they  cost  ? " 

"  Not  exactly." 

"  Going  to  get  those  dingle-dangles  ? " 

"  Oh  dear,  no  !  They  've  been  out  of  fashion 
these  ages.  I  could  have  had  a  set  of  those,  for 
that  matter.  Aunt  Agnes  has  a  pair  set  away  in 
her  store-closet,  no  use  to  any  one  ;  but  they  are 
so  antediluvian.  I  want  a  pair  of  pretty  bronze 
figures.  Gilt  always  seems  tawdry  to  me ;  besides, 
it  weare  off ;  so  bronze  is  really  much  cheaper." 

"  I  thought  bronze  ornaments  were  the  most 
expensive  of  any.  I  don't  believe  they  will  come 
within  my  limits." 

"  Oh,  not  real  bronze,  you  know  1  Everybody 
has  imitations  that  not  one  in  twenty  discovers. 
Mre.  Phillips  has,  and  Mrs.  Graves." 


GIFT-MAKING.  283 

"  None  of  your  imitations,  Matty.  I  don't  go 
in  for  shams  in  any  thing." 

"  But  this  is  quite  another  thing.  Everybody 
has  them.     No  one  expects  the  real  thing." 

"  Beautiful  consistency  !  I  always  did  admire 
it.  Didn't  I  hear  somebody  defending  mock  dia- 
monds with  that  very  argument,  and  you  say  that 
your  own  self-respect  wouldn't  allow  it  ?  Self- 
respect  less  stringent  in  bronze  than  diamonds  !  " 
And  he  teazingly  drew  out  his  pocket  diaiy,  as  if 
to  make  a  memorandum  of  it,  but,  in  reality,  to 
set  down  his  wife's  fare  to  the  city. 

"  You  have  a  desperate  memory,  Murray." 

"  And  you  a  very  convenient  one.  No  shams  ! 
Come,  now ! " 

"  But  you  just  said  you  couldn't  afford  the 
real ;  you  know  you  did." 

"  I  suppose  I  ought  to  say,  then,  go  without 
till  we  can.  But  I  don't  intend  to.  You  've  made 
yourself  sick  trying  to  save  for  me  ;  and  I  've  de- 
nied myself  every  thing,  this  year  ;  and  it 's  a  great 
pity  if  I  can't  indulge  such  a  good  little  woman 
once  in  a  while.  So  she  should  have  her  cande- 
labras  ;  there  !  " 


284  THE  C00PEE8. 

"  Don't  be  nonsensical,  Murray.  But  hav'n't 
we  done  wonders,  this  year  ?  Our  expenses  have 
been  fully  a  hundred  less  than  last,  and  with  the 
moving  and  two  children,  too.  I  think  we  deserve 
a  great  deal  of  credit." 

"  We  must  do  a  great  deal  better,  though,  next 
year.    What 's  a  hundred  dollars  ? " 

"  Nothing  to  spend,  that  is  true,  but  a  great 
deal  when  it  was  spared  from  twenty  things  that 
had  always  been  held  as  absolute  necessities." 
Mrs.  Cooper  experienced  that  cheerful  glow  of 
satisfaction  which  arises  from  the  consciousness 
of  moral  exertion  successfully  put  forth,  and  felt 
equal  to  writing  an  appendix  to  Miss  Beecher's 
"  Domestic  Economy."  Indulging  in  this  mental 
self-glorification,  she  submitted  to  the  silence  al- 
ways imposed  on  the  female  part  of  the  commu- 
nity from  the  moment  the  newsboy  makes  his 
appearance  in  the  cars  with  the  morning  papers, 
and  was  handed  out  at  Chambers  street,  with  the 
settled  opinion  that  very  few  women  were  more 
entirely  devoted  to  their  husbands'  interests  than 
hereelf. 

"  We  will  take  the  candelabras  first,"  said  Mr. 


GIFT-MAKING.  285 

Cooper,  as  they  walked  up  Chambei's  street ;  "  for 
I  must  be  at  the  store  by  half  past  ten.  Where 
shall  you  go  ?  I  believe  there 's  an  establishment 
near  the  Park  ? " 

"  Hadn't  we  better  go  to  Haughwout's,  where 
we  had  our  china  and  things  ? " 

"  That 's  so  far  up  town.  Here,  this  place  is 
as  good  as  any  other,  I  suppose.  Yes  ;  there  are 
candelabras.  Now,  don't  be  all  day  choosing, 
but  suit  yourself." 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  been  perfectly  innocent  in  her 
decision — innocent  of  any  extravagant  intentions, 
that  is.  She  thought  a  pair  of  low,  plain  candela- 
bras, in  imitation  bronze,  could  be  had  for  about 
twelve  doUare,  and  asked  to  have  some  shown  her  ; 
but  there  were  none  at  that  price  ;  some  below  it, 
dwarfed  and  inelegant  in  shape ;  others  ranging 
higher,  but  witli  a  mixture  of  gilt,  or  painted 
porcelain,  which  did  not  please  her  at  all.  "There, 
something  like  those,"  she  said,  pointing  to  a  pair 
of  single  figures  on  marble  pedestals,  upholding  a 
branch.  They  came  very  near  to  her  ideal — 
simple,  chaste,  and  elegant. 

"Those  are  the  real  thing,"  said  the  shopman. 


2B6  THE  C00PEB8. 

"  You  can't  find  any  tiling  like  those  in  imita- 
tion." 

"  That 's  what  we  want,"  said  Mr.  Cooper, 
speaking  for  the  first  time.  "  Let  us  see  some  more." 

"  Oh  !  "  And  the  man's  manner  instantly 
showed  an  increase  of  animation,  as  if  it  were 
considerably  better  worth  his  while  to  attend  to 
them.  "Much  cheaper  in  the  end,  sir.  These 
twist  and  droop  with  a  very  little  wear.  Those  are 
always  the  same,  firm  as  iron,  you  see — ^heavier. 
Just  try  to  lift  it,  ma'am." 

"  I  should  think  they  would  break  more  easily 
then,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  studying  the  figures,  and 
admiring  them  more  every  moment. 

"  Copies  from  celebrated  antiques.  There, 
sir!  observe  the  poise  of  that  figure.  Break, 
ma'am  ?  Oh  it 's  possible  !  but  bronze  itself  can 
easily  be  mended.  The  imitation  is  quite  useless, 
after  a  hard  knock  ;  that 's  the  great  advantage." 

"  What 's  tlie  price  ? "  said  Mr.  Cooper,  shortly. 

The  man  spoke  low.  Mrs.  Cooper,  at  a  little 
distance  understood  him  to  say  twenty -five  dollars. 
They  were  quite  out  of  her  reach  ;  but  she  liked 
them  more  than  ever.    Even  her  unpractised  eye 


GIFT-MAKING.  287 

could  see  their  purity  and  grace  beside  the  best  of 
the  imitations. 

Mr.  Cooper  took  out  his  watch.  Time  was 
precious  to  Mrs.  Cooper  as  well  as  himself.  She 
could  not  leave  her  baby  longer  than  the  mid-day 
train.  "  Have  you  any  others,  a  little  less,  some- 
thing this  style  ?  " 

N"o.  Unfortunately,  that  was  the  only  pair  they 
had  then  at  a  medium  price.  All  the  rest  were 
larger,  and  still  more  expensive.  This  pair  was 
unusually  low ;  but  they  had  marked  every  thing 
down  ;  it  was  near  the  holiday  season  ;  and  they 
wanted  to  make  way  for  a  new  lot  of  goods  they 
were  just  getting  through  the  custom-house. 

"No,  sir.  Tliose  are  a  tremendous  bargain. 
They  could  not  be  imported  for  that  price." 

Mrs.  Cooper  knew  enough  of  such  wares  to  be 
sure  that  this  was  true.  Twenty -five  dollars  was 
little  enough  for  any  thing  so  handsome.  "  They 
are  certainly  very  low,  Murray.  I  wish  we  could 
afford  it,"  she  said,  in  a  rapid  aside  ;  while  the 
clerk,  accustomed  to  such  little  colloquies  between 
customers,  politely  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  whis- 
per, and  appeared  to  be  about  replacing  the  coveted 


288  THE   COOPERS. 

articles  on  the  upper  slielf  from  "which  he  had 
produced  them.  "  They  suit  me  so  exactly ;  eveiy 
thing  else  will  seem  so  shabby.  I  'm  almost  sorry 
we  looked  at  them." 

"  Do  they  suit  you  ?  are  you  sure  ? "  said  Mr. 
Cooper,  hastily.  "  You  are  giving  youi*self  very 
little  time  for  the  dressmaker.  The  cars  leave 
exactly  at  half  past  twelve,  recollect.  Are  they 
just  what  you  wanted?  " 

"  Oh,  handsomer !  There  isn't  a  single  pair 
here  I  would  have  but  those  ;  and,  of  course — " 

But  her  criticism  was  cut  short  by  Mr.  Cooper's 
abrupt  call  to  the  shopman :  "  You  may  pack  those. 
Have  them  at  the  depot  in  time  for  the  four  o'clock 
train." 

"  But,  Murray  !  "  His  wife  looked  aghast  at 
the  order ;  but  it  was  too  late  for  expostulation. 
The  shopman  was  busy  writing  down  the  address ; 
and  she  could  not  expostulate  before  him.  It  was 
80  very  extravagant ;  but  they  were  so  very  hand- 
some. Tliey  ought  not  to  aiFord  it ;  but  it  was 
just  Murray's  old  self  when  they  were  first  mar- 
ried. He  never  could  bear  to  deny  her  any  thing 
she  had  set  her  heart  on.     Perhaps  they  would  be 


GIFT-MAKING.  289 

the  cheapest  in  the  end,  as  the  man  said  ;  and  she 
wonld  not  allow  him  to  make  her  any  Christmas 
or  New-Year's  gift.  "  I  'm  so  sorry,"  she  began, 
the  moment  they  set  foot  on  the  pavement  again. 

"  Sorry  for  what  ?  Didn't  you  say  you  liked 
them?" 

"  Yes,  indeed  ;  but  you  know  as  well  as  I  do 
that—" 

"  Oh,  don't  let  's  talk  any  more  about  it !  1 
know  all  you  intend  to  preach  ;  and  I  've  been  a 
devout  hearer  for  so  long,  I  had  to  break  out  to 
be  sure  of  my  own  identity.  I  set  out  to  make 
you  a  present  for  the  first  time  in  a  year ;  and  I 
wanted  you  to  be  suited  ;  if  yon  are,  it 's  all  right. 
I  wouldn't  give  any  of  those  other  things  house 
room." 

They  separated  at  the  corner ;  and  Mrs.  Cooper 
went  her  way,  half  pleased,  half  sorry,  but  think- 
ing, after  all,  that  it  was  hot  such  a  very  enormous 
"  lapsus"  into  past  offences,  as  it  might  have  been, 
and  committed  solely  to  give  her  pleasure  ;  while 
some  men  would  have  wasted  twice  as  much  on 
selfish  gratification.     She  had  her  own  little  secret, 

that  morning — a  plan  to  surprise  Murray  with  a 
13 


290  THE   COOPERS. 

Christmas  gift,  simple  and  inexpensive, — ^yes,  in- 
deed, she  must  be  more  prudent  than  ever,  now 
— but  something  that  he  had  once  expressed  a 
wish  for. 

Long  ago,  in  the  days  of  their  courtship,  they 
had  read  an  Italian  story  together,  of  some  hus- 
band lost  in  a  shipwreck,  and  washed  ashore 
clinging  to  driftwood,  with  a  band  of  liair,  braided 
and  clasped  with  gold,  about  the  rigid  arm.  His 
wife's  hair  it  proved  to  be  when  identified  by  the 
clasp  ;  and  it  had  never  left  his  arm  since  the  day 
she  fastened  it  there.  It  was  decidedly  sentimen- 
tal ;  but  Mr.  Cooper  had  an  unsuspected  vein  of 
romance  hidden  under  his  careless  manner ;  and 
he  liked  the  fancy  very  much,  and  had  spoken  of 
it  several  times  since.  "  Only  I  should  want  you 
to  braid  it  yourself,"  he  said,  in  one  of  these  lover- 
like outbreaks.  "  It  would  destroy  all  the  poetry 
to  have  it  go  through  the  gum  and  bobbins  of 
those  hair-workers." 

Mrs.  Cooper  was  rather  touched  by  this  mani- 
festation, and  secretly  resolved  to  get  up  a  bracelet, 
according  to  desire,  and  manage  to  place  it  on 
his  arm  Christmas  morning.     She  had  the  braid 


GIFT-MAKnrG.  391 

with  her,  having  shorn  an  ample  tress  of  her  wavy- 
black  hair ;  and  a  clasp  would  cost  but  little,  as 
inexpensive  as  her  most  rigid  resolutions  required. 

The  principal  of  the  large  Broadway  estab- 
lishment which  she  turned  to  happened  to  wait  on 
her  himself.  He  required  a  little  explanation. 
The  bracelet  would  be  so  very  large ;  she  must 
have  mistaken  the  size.  I^o  ;  she  was  positive ; 
and,  to  convince  him,  she  produced  the  tape- 
measure  she  had  cleverly  contrived  to  slip  around 
Murray's  arm  without  his  detecting  her.  "  It  was 
to  be  worn  very  high  up,  quite  out  of  sight,"  she 
explained — "  a  gentleman's  arm."  She  felt  her 
face  flush. 

"  Ah,  I  understand  ! — a  gage  cf  amour, ^^  said 
the  jeweller,  with  a  smile  she  did  not  like.  "  Mad- 
am wishes  a  very  handsome  clasp,  with  an  in- 
scription." 

"  A  single  word  and  initials  ;  that  is  all." 

"What  kind  of  braid?"  And  he  produced 
several  specimens  of  fanciful  hair-work  from  a 
drawer  close  by. 

"Ah,  this!  exactly  as  it  is.  I  wish  you  to  be 
very  sure  it  is  not  touched." 


292  THE    COOPERS. 

"  It  will  wear  very  easily  in  this  style  " — and 
the  jeweller  turned  the  braid  over  and  over — 
"  fray  and  fret  out.  Perhaps  madam  has  plenty 
to  replace  it." 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  not  thought  of  this  contin- 
gency. No,  indeed ;  she  could  not  make  up  her 
mind  to  spare  any  more  with  the  present  style  of 
broad  braids.  She  knew  the  man  was  right,  too. 
Even  the  closely  woven  bracelet  she  wore  showed 
symptoms  of  the  fraying  he  spoke  of.  "  Is  there 
no  way  to  prevent  it !  "  she  said,  glancing  at  the 
large  clock  over  the  show-case,  which  ticked 
warningly.     Her  morning  was  already  half  gone. 

The  obliging  jeweller  suggested  several  ex- 
pedients, if  she  was  entirely  determined  not  to 
have  a  fancy  braid.  She  had  seen  rings  with  the 
hair  set  in  the  centre  of  a  gold  band,  perliaps  ? 

That  would  be  too  heavy  and  inflexible,  she 
thought. 

How  would  some  little  links,  lightly  chased, 
which  would  make  it  more  omamental,*do  ?  "  He 
had  an  idea."  And  the  dark  eyes  studied  the 
tress  awhile,  with  his  forefinger  laid  meditatively 
on  the  side  -of  a  fine,  prominent  Koman  nose. 


GIFT-MAKING.  293 

"  Perhaps  lie  should  not  be  able  to  make  it  very 
clear  to  her.  Suppose  she  left  it  to  his  taste  and 
judgment  ? " 

It  was  all  she  could  do,  for  her  time  was  almost 
up  ;  and  she  could  not  stop  for  a  lengthy  expla- 
nation. She  gave  particular  instructions  as  to  the 
time  it  must  be  done,  the  initials,  etc.,  and  turned 
to  leave  the  counter.  But  what  would  the  ex- 
pense of  this  novel  arrangement  be  ?  She  ought 
to  ask ;  but  she  hesitated,  and  went  towards  the 
door.  Perhaps  he  would  think  her  very  fussy 
and  particular.  She  wished  one  of  the  clerks  had 
waited  on  her.  She  would  not  have  minded  them 
so  much.  But  she  summoned  courage  to  turn 
back  and  make  the  inquiry,  faltering  a  little,  pos- 
sibly, as  she  saw  the  expression  of  those  pene- 
trating eyes,  which  seemed  to  read  her  economical 
motives  through  and  through,  though  she  had  en- 
deavored to  put  on  a  careless  manner,  as  if  it  were 
not  of  the  least  consequence. 

"  Really,  it  would  be  impossible  to  determine 
before  the  work  is  done.  We  have  never  manu- 
factured any  thing  of  the  kind.  As  reasonable  as 
possible  :  madam  may  depend  upon  that." 


294  THE   COOPERS. 

A  dismal  foreboding  flitted  across  Mrs.  Coop- 
er's mind.  "  Perhaps  you  had  better  leave  out 
the  chasing,"  she  said,  with  a  great  effort. 

"  Oh,  if  madam  wished  it !  but  it  would  quite 
destroy  the  effect  we  should  desire  to  produce. 
Certainly." 

Mrs.  Cooper,  over  sensitive,  imagined  that  she 
detected  the  faintest  perceptible  sneer  in  tone  and 
manner.  "  Just  as  you  please,  then,"  she  said, 
quickly,  "so  it  does  not  make  it  too  expen- 
sive." 

"  Oh,  no,  she  could  depend  on  that ! "  And, 
wishing  she  could,  she  left  the  store  with  an  unde- 
fined apprehension  of  loss  or  disappointment.  It 
went  with  her  as  she  kept  her  engagement  at  the 
dressmaker's.  It  followed  her  home,  where  she 
arrived  weary  and  jaded  with  the  effort  she  had 
made  to  keep  up  to  the  time  of  the  train.  Even 
in  its  bare  November  aspect,  the  quiet  of  the  vil- 
lage was  a  relief  after  the  hurry  and  jostle  of  the 
city.  All  the  gay  elasticity  with  which  she  left 
home  that  morning  had  vanished.  "  I  don't  care 
if  it 's  the  last  time  I  shall  see  New  York  this 
winter,"  she  said  to  herself,  as  the  garden-gate 


GIFT-MAXING.  295 

swung  to  behind  her.  She  felt  as  if  her  holiday 
had  been  filled  with  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit. 
The  sight  that  greeted  her  as  she  went  up  stairs, 
and  opened  the  nursery-door  softly,  lest  she  should 
disturb  either  of  the  children  in  a  nap,  was  the 
best  thing  that  could  have  happened  to  restore 
the  tone  of  her  mind.  Johnny  was  still  tucked 
under  his  crib  blanket,  tired  with  his  long  morn- 
ing's play  ;  but  the  baby  was  up,  and  as  quiet  as 
a  kitten,  looking  with  round,  astonished  eyes,  into 
the  face  of  her  new  nui-se,  as  if  she  had  the  sense 
to  comprehend  and  be  astonished  at  the  fact  that 
Lizzie  Grant  was,  of  her  own  free  will,  actually 
holding  a  baby.  "  Horrid  little  wretch  I  There  ! 
take  it !  "  she  called  out,  her  face  flushing  at  the 
discovery.  "  Of  course,  I  could  not  let  it  scream 
itself  into  convulsions  while  Katy  went  to  the 
kitchen  for  some  milk  and  water,  to  make  up  for 
the  detention  of  its  unnatural  mother.  Pretty 
story  for  Mrs.  Henderson  to  hear,  so  soon  after 
her  departure,  too,  that  I  came  out  to  console  you, 
and  found  you  dancing  off  to  the  city  after  Mur- 
ray, and  leaving  the  baby  to  its  fate  ? " 

"  If  you  only  knew  how  interesting  you  looked ! 


296  THE   CX)OPERS. 

Oh,  if  Murray  was  here  !  How  did  you  come  ? 
How  long  have  you  been  here  ? " 

"  Take  this  monkey  first.  There  !  she 's  going 
to  cry,  of  couree.  I  never  touched  a  child  in  my 
life  that  didn't  scream  immediately.  Go  to  your 
mother,  you  ungrateful  little  thing  !  " 

"  But  when  did  you  come ! "  asked  Mi's. 
Cooper,  as  Katy  appeared  to  the  rescue,  while  she 
laid  aside  her  things. 

"  Since  you  left,  of  course.  As  a  special  act 
of  charity,  to  find  you  comforting  yourself  other- 
wheres ;  next  time  I  shall  keep  my  condolence  to 
myself."  And,  though  greatly  wondering  what 
was  the  real  motive  for  this  unpremeditated  but 
most  acceptable  visit,  Mrs.  Cooper  failed  to  dis- 
cover it  in  the  chat  whicli  ensued.  Lizzie  per- 
sisted that  she  had  come  to  comfort  her  after  Mrs. 
Henderson's  departure,  and  listened  with  great 
friendliness  to  Mrs.  Cooper's  eulogium,  considering 
how  little  she  fancied  good  people,  and  that  the 
Bon  of  this  "  best  of  women "  was  her  especial 
aversion.  She  managed  to  inform  lierself  of  the 
whole  domestic  history  of  the  family,  however,  of 
Mrs.   Hendereon's  widowhood,  her  struggles  to 


GEFT-MAKING.  297 

bring  up  her  children,  the  names  and  ages  of  the 
girls,  and  the  story  of  Stephen's  self-denial  for 
their  sakes.  Mrs.  Cooper  talked  away  on  this  fa- 
vorite theme  very  willingly,  with  a  few  leading 
questions,  and  thought  Lizzie  extremely  amiable 
to  listen. 

The  afternoon  passed  rapidly ;  and  Mrs.  Cooper, 
rested  and  diverted  from  her  morning's  adventures, 
was  quite  herself  again  by  the  time  her  husband 
came. 

"  So  Matty  imported  you  for  the  purpose  of 
admiring  her  birthday  present,  did  she?"  was 
Mr.  Cooper's  salutation.  "  Did  you  run  over  each 
other  at  Stewart's  or  Thompson's?  Here  they 
are,  Matty.  The  individual  positively  kept  his 
word  for  once  in  his  life.  I  hope  they  are  all 
right.  There  !  that  will  do,  my  man.  Put  it 
down  in  the  hall." 

"  What  a  large  box  !"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  walk- 
ing around  it,  a  little  uneasily. 

"  Presents.     Oh,  I  'ra  always  ready  to  inspect 

and  admire  !     Let 's  unpack.     Where 's  a  hammer 

or  something,  Tiny.    '  Collameres  ! '    Oil,  a  French 

china  tea-set ! " 
13* 


298  THE  CXX)PER8. 

w  "I  might  have  had  one  for  the  same  money," 
eaid  Mrs.  Cooper,  a  little  regretfully.  Still,  there 
was  zest  iu  the  unpacking,  which  all  three  assisted 
in,  making  a  great  litter  of  tissue-paper  and  straw 
for  Tiny  to  clear  away  at  her  leisure.  Mrs.  Cooper 
dusted,  and  her  husband  set  up  the  very  handsome 
addition  to  their  little  parlor. 

"  You  extravagant  people  ! "  said  Miss  Grant, 
dispatching  Tiny  for  the  candle-box  to  see  how 
they  would  light  up.  "  But  bronzes  are  not  quite 
80  costly  as  they  were.  I  chose  a  set  for  Jane 
Lawton,  when  she  went  to  housekeeping,  you  see, 
and  happen  to  know." 

"  Oh,  these  were  a  tremendous  bargain  ! " — 
Mrs.  Cooper  was  very  willing  to  believe  it,  as  she 
looked  around  the  room,  and  thought  how  much 
more  she  could  have  done  with  the  same  amount 
to  add  to  its  decoration  and  comfort — "only 
twenty-five  dollars." 

"  You  couldn't  get  them  for  that,  I  know," 
said  Miss  Grant,  essaying  vainly  to  lift  one. 

"  But  we  did."  And  Mrs,  Cooper  appealed  to 
her  husband,  who  had  gone  for  the  candles  him- 
self, delighted  at  this  confirmation  to  the  shop- 


GIFT-MAKING.  299 

man's  assertions.  "  Lizzie  won't  believe  that  we 
only  paid  twenty-five  dollars  for  them." 

"  Forty-five  !  "  said  Mr.  Cooper,  with  emphasis. 

"  !No,  Lizzie  ;  he 's  only  teazing  you.  It  was 
twenty,  not  forty.  That 's  bad  enough.  We  have 
not  quite  lost  our  senses." 

"  But  it  was  forty-five,"  said  Mr.  Cooper,  se- 
riously. "  I  thought  you  understood  it.  There 's 
the  bill,  any  way ;  and  that 's  what  I  paid  him." 

A  faint,  sick  feeling  made  Mrs.  Cooper  sit 
down  in  the  nearest  chair,  as  she  came  to  under- 
stand that  her  incautious  admiration  had  really 
cost  them  so  much. 

The  room  was  a  blaze  of  light  a  moment  after ; 
and  Lizzie  was  calling  her  to  admire  the  effect. 
She  could  scarcely  force  a  smile  in  reply,  or  wait 
until  her  friend  had  gone  up  stairs  to  renew  her 
toilet  for  dinner,  to  say  :  "  Oh,  Murray,  how  could 
you  !  Oh,  I  never  shall  want  to  see  them  or  hear 
of  them  again  !  " 

Mr.  Cooper  had  meditated  the  gift  so  long,  and 
had  even  involved  his  own  conscience  to  gratify 
his  wife  entirely,  that  he  felt  aggrieved,  naturally 
enough,  at  this  reception  of  it.     When  Miss  Grant 


300  THE   C00PEE8. 

came  down  again,  she  rallied  them  both  on  their 
long  faces,  and  secretly  wondered  whether  it  was 
flour  or  soap  out  this  time — coal,  possibly,  by  their 
extreme  gravity  and  mutual  politeness. 

If  the  purpose  of  a  gift  is  to  make  both  parties 
happier,  neither  the  one  received  nor  premeditated 
had  its  due  effect  on  Mrs.  Cooper.  She  avoided 
the  parlor  as  much  as  possible,  for  she  was  con- 
tinually computing  what  might  have  been  done 
for  it  by  the  forty-five  dollars  stiffly  transfixed  on 
the  corners  of  the  mantelpiece ;  and,  as  she  had 
said  to  Murray,  no  one  thought  of  looking  for  the 
real  thing,  so  they  should  never  have  the  credit 
of  possession. 

"  Better  hunt  up  the  shop  ticket,  with  the  price 
in  full,  and  hang  on  one  of  the  branches,"  said 
Murray,  tired  of  the  bewailing  that  would  break 
forth,  now  and  then,  to  hira.  A  less  amiable  man, 
under  the  circumstances,  would  have  retorted  with 
the  threat  of  this  being  the  last  time  lie  should 
ever  try  to  gratify  her,  or  that  she  had  no  one  to 
blame  but  hei-self. 

Then  there  was  the  uncertainty  about  the 
bracelet^ — whether  it  would  be  done  in  time 


GIFT-MAKING.  301 

whether  Lizzie  Grant,  to  whom  the  commission 
had  been  intrusted,  would  remember  to  call  for 
it — and,  above  all,  what  would  be  the  amount  of 
the  bill.  Five  dollars  was  the  utmost  limit  she 
had  first  intended ;  but  gradually  she  tried  to  ac- 
custom her  mind  to  the  idea  of  ten,  though  it 
might  involve  her  in  some  difficulty,  and  perhaps 
an  appeal  to  Murray's  purse,  very  annoying,  con- 
sidering the  circumstances. 

Christmas  week  came,  and  no  package  from 
Miss  Grant.  She  did  not  like  to  write  to  her,  for 
fear  Murray  might  chance  to  receive  and  open  the 
reply,  so  spoiling  the  surprise  ;  and  a  message,  if 
ever  so  carefully  worded,  might  lead  to  the  same 
result.  Going  in  herself  was  out  of  the  question, 
in  a  week  so  busy  to  all  housekeepers,  and  with 
no  ostensible  excuse.  But  her  suspense  was  ended 
at  last. 

"  There 's  a  package  somebody  left  at  the  office 
for  you,"  said  Murray,  one  evening.  There  were 
only  three  days  to  Christmas ;  and  Mrs.  Cooper 
had  been  resolving  to  go  in  at  all  hazards,  if  she 
did  not  hear  that  night.  "  It 's  Lizzie  Grant's  di- 
rection— a  Christmas  box  for  yon  or  the  children, 


302  THE   COOPEKS. 

I  suppose ;  so  I  thought  I  would  give  you  the 
pleasure  of  opening  it." 

Mrs.  Cooper  caught  at  the  neat  little  parcel. 
It  was  evidently  the  bracelet ;  and  a  note  was 
slipped  into  the  cord  which  secured  the  wrapper. 

"  Read  it  first,"  suggested  Mr.  Cooper.  "  That 
will  tell  the  whole  story." 

It  did ! 

"  My  deak  Matty  :  I  despair  of  getting  this  to 
you  by  any  one  but  Murray.  Your  friend,  Mrs. 
Phillips,  had  left  before  I  received  it.  So  we  must 
trust  to  fortune  and  the  Evening  Post  as  to  the 
chance  of  a  premature  disclosure.  I  send  the  bill, 
which  I  paid  at  once,  as  I  supposed  you  wished 
me  to. 

"  My  devoted  love  to  the  nursery  department. 
"  In  haste,  Lizzie." 

The  bill,  indeed.  Mrs.  Cooper  opened  it  des- 
perately, quite  oblivious,  in  her  agitation,  of  her 
husband's  movements.  Unsuspicious  that  he  was, 
in  any  degree,  verging  on  forbidden  ground,  Mr. 
Cooper  occupied  himself  in  unloosing  the  parcel 
on  the  other  side  of  the  lamp. 


GIFT-MAKING.  303 

Mrs.  Cooper  gave  a  little  sigh  of  relief  as  she 
saw  the  sum  total — three  dollars  and  seventy-five 
cents.  She  might  have  spared  herself  all  that 
worry  for  such  a  pitiful  sum,  far  less  than  she  ex- 
pected at  first.  But  no !  as  she  looked  again,  to 
be  sure  it  was  all  right.  The  figures  danced  be- 
fore her  eyes,  while  the  blood  rushed  to  her  face 
with  fright  and  mortification.  "$3T  75"  were 
the  correct  figures.  There  was  no  gainsaying  it ; 
and  the  only  hope  now  was  that  the  book-keeper 
of  Tait  &  Co.  might  have  made  an  error.  But 
this  dismal  train  of  reflections,  rapid  as  they  were, 
had  a  sudden  interruption. 

«  Hallo,  Matty  !  what 's  this  ?  a  dog-collar  ? " 
A  dog-collar,  indeed  !  The  article  which  Mr. 
Cooper  had  just  freed  from  its  bedding  of  pink 
and  white  cotton,  and  now  held  up  with  wonder- 
ing scrutiny,  was,  in  size  and  shape,  to  be  com- 
pared to  no  other  known  invention.  Massive  and 
richly  wrought,  nearly  an  inch  in  width,  and  at 
least  nine  in  circumference,  it  seemed  to  her  first 
amazed,  disappointed,  incredulous  gaze.  "  It  must 
be  a  mistake.  Oh,  I'm  so  glad  !  Yes,  I  guess  it 
is  a  collar  for  a  pet  greyhound,  or  something  of 


304  THE  C0OPEE8. 

that  sort ;  and  they  've  sent  it  to  me  by  accident. 
Let  me  see."  And  she  reached  out  her  hand  with 
a  little  nervous  laugh  of  relief. 

"  Wait  a  minute.  Here  are  the  owner's  ini- 
tials, then :  'M.  S.  C.  to  M.  C  Why,  what  an 
odd  coincidence  !  And  here  's  this  dark  line  I 
thought  was  enamel.  Why  it 's  hair,  a  braid  of 
hair  ?    Did  you  ever  see  any  thing  so  mysterious  ?  " 

Mrs.  Cooper  had  it  in  her  own  hands  at  last. 
There  was  a  mistake,  true  enough,  plenty  of  mis- 
takes, but  not  the  one  she  had  comforted  herself 
with.  The  tape  measure  she  had  left  had  been 
used  in  its  full  length,  not  to  the  knot  expressly 
pointed  out  to  Mr.  Tait.  The  bracelet  was  a  heavy 
hoop  of  gold,  something  like  those  so  much  the 
fashion  for  ladies'  wear,  only  twice  the  width,  the 
outer  surface  relieved  by  a  wreath  of  delicately 
wrought  leaves,  under  which  the  braid  was  to  be 
discovered,  having  precisely  the  effect  of  black 
enamel.  The  design  was  well  enough  in  its  way, 
the  workmanship  exquisite,  but  the  misconception 
of  her  purpose  and  her  order  absolute.  It  would 
have  encircled  the  brawny  arm  of  "  the  village 
blacksmith  ; "  and,  as  for  all  sentimental  associa- 


GUT-MAKING.  305 

tions,  the  "  dog-collar"  had  nipped  them  in  the 
bud. 

Mrs.  Cooper  began  to  explain,  but  thought  of 
the  bill,  and  her  great  worry  and  disappointment 
after  all.  She  could  not  go  on.  Her  husband 
laughed  till  the  tears  stood  in  his  eyes,  when  he 
at  last  began  to  have  some  glimmering  of  the 
truth,  and  then  checked  his  mirth,  and  tried  to 
console  her,  finding  how  really  distressed  she  was. 
"  Can't  you  wind  it  round  with  something,  so  that 
I  could  wear  it  after  all,  Matty,  or  pad  it  ?  "  And 
then  he  slipped  it  up  over  his  coat-sleeve,  quite  to 
the  elbow.  No  ;  that  would  not  do.  "  Perhaps 
the  man  can  take  a  reef  in  it  somehow.  Never 
mind ;  there,  '  the  will  for  the  deed,'  you  know, 
little  one." 

But,  as  in  many  another  case,  this  was  no  con- 
solation whatever ;  and  Mrs.  Cooper  went  to  bed 
with  a  fast  increasing  nervous  headache,  leaving 
the  "  dog-collar"  on  the  table  with  her  untasted 
dinner.  She  passed  a  restless,  miserable  night, 
full  of  expedients  to  clear  herself  of  the  obligation 
to  Miss  Grant,  without  applying  to  her  husband, 
all  equally  useless  and  visionary.  She  slept  heavily 


306  THE  C00PEE8. 

towards  morning ;  and,  when  she  awoke,  Murray 
had  gone  to  town,  leaving  a  note  on  her  pillow, 
inclosing  a  check  for  the  amount. 

"  Don't  worry  any  more,  Matty.  Set  it  down 
opposite  to  candelabras,  and  balance  the  account. 
Kext  time,  we  will  consult  each  other — you  in 
word,  and  I  in  deed." 

The  generous  forbearance  made  Mre.  Cooper 
far  happier  than  the  costliest  gift  could  have  done. 
But  the  next  train  found  her  speeding  to  town, 
with  the  parcel  and  the  check,  animated  by  the 
most  courageous  resolutions,  and  sustained  by 
them  when  she  entered  Tait's,  and  inquired  for 
the  head  of  the  establishment.  He  was  sorry, 
very  sorry,  that  he  had  not  apprehended  the  lady's 
order ;  but  he  had  taken  great  credit  to  himself 
for  its  execution.  The  mistake  must  assuredly  lie 
with  herself,  and  of  course  the  loss.  Such  a  trinket 
could  never  find  sale,  would  be  perfectly  useless 
in  his  stock. 

"  Is  there  any  way  of  alteration,  then  ?  "  in- 
quired Mrs.  Cooper.  "  It  might  make  a  pair  of 
bracelets  for  a  lady."    And,  if  the  worst  came  to 


GIFT-MAKING.  307 

the  worst,  she  conld  bestow  them  on  Lizzie  Grant, 
in  return  for  some  of  her  numerous  gifts. 

Mr.  Tait  smiled  loftily.  "  Impossible  to  bend 
without  injuring,"  was  his  imperturbable  reply. 

"  What  ccm  be  done  with  it  ? "  said  his  cus- 
tomer, rapidly  losing  every  particle  of  interest  in 
the  unfortunate  gage  d* amour. 

The  jeweller  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  It  would  be  worthless  to  me,  except  its  in- 
trinsic value  as  old  gold." 

"  How  much  would  that  be  ? "  Happy  thought ! 
She  might  recover  at  least  half  her  loss. 

"  Was  madam  really  in  earnest  ?  " 

Yes ;  never  more  so ;  not  only  earnest,  but 
almost  defiant.  Half  the  amount  of  boldness  that 
now  came  to  her  aid  would  have  saved  her  the 
dilemma. 

The  scales  were  adjusted,  with  a  manner  the 
reverse  of  courteous. 

"  Nine  doUai-s  and  a  half  is  all  I  could  allow," 
said  a  voice  so  cold  that  it  might  have  been 
that  of  Sir  John  Franklin  wafted  from  the  Arctic 
region  on  the  bleak  north  wind,  that  had  given 
Mre.  Cooper's  cheeks  a  brilliant  glow.    There  was 


308  THE  C00P1218. 

a  little  of  her  old  spirit,  too,  in  the  flush.  The 
man's  demeanor  was  rude  almost  to  insult. 

"  You  charged  me  thirty-eight,  nearly.  Im- 
possible !  "  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  at  this  revelation  of 
business  profits. 

The  jeweller  held  out  the  bracelet,  pointing  to 
the  chased  work. 

"  I  explained  that  it  would  be  expensive." 

Mrs.  Cooper  scorned  an  altercation,  in  which 
there  was  evidently  nothing  to  be  gained. 

"  You  may  pay  me  nine  and  a  half." 

"  Just  as  madam  pleases." 

The  dark  eyes  glowed;  and  the  hand  that 
counted  down  the  money  fairly  trembled  with 
suppressed  anger.  Then,  before  she  could  place 
it  in  her  purse,  he  seized  a  heavy  pair  of  iron 
pincers,  and  crushed  the  costly  bauble  hopelessly 
between  them,  as  if  it  had  been  paper,  sweeping 
the  fragments  into  an  open  drawer. 

Whatever  of  fable  may  be  inwrought  with  this 
family  history,  the  scene  thus  ending  is  veritable, 
and  "  trade  profits"  still  are  realized  over  the 
counter  which  separated  the  negotiators  in  this 
rapid  transaction. 


GIFT-MAKING.  309 

Mrs.  Cooper  made  her  appearance  at  her  hus- 
band's office  with  a  lighter  heart,  if  a  lighter  purse, 
than  she  had  known  since  ordering  the  bracelet, 
and  laid  down  the  notes  she  had  just  received. 
"  A  trifle  on  account,"  she  said,  meeting  his  half 
questioning,  half  teazing  look. 

Johnny's  angola  stockings  were  both  crammed 
out  of  shape  on  Christmas  morning ;  and  a  Noah's 
Ark  from  Mr.  Henderson  was  hitched  behind  a 
toy  locomotive,  regardless  of  all  precedent,  and 
headed  straight  for  the  grate-pan,  below  the  sus- 
pended sugar-plums  and  lady-apples.  Even  the 
baby's  socks  held  a  gift  from  Lizzie  Grant,  a  set 
of  corals  that  overflowed  in  a  crimson  rivulet  on 
the  dressing-table.  But  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper  ex- 
changed only  a  very  fond  kiss,  and  the  promise 
that  even  in  gift-making  they  would  hereafter  let 
appropriateness  and  thoughtful  consideration  stand 
in  the  place  of  lavish  expenditure. 


^M 


CHAPTER  Xm. 

TINDEK     FULL    SAIL. 
"And  80  He  bringetli  them  to  the  haven  where  they  ■would  be." 

There  was  a  grave  coDsultation  in  the  little 
counting-house  of  Cooper  &  Henderson.  The  short 
winter's  day  had  already  given  place  to  an  uncom- 
fortable murky  twilight.  The  gas  had  been  called 
into  service  two  hours  before ;  and  the  partners 
still  lingered  over  the  thick  ledgers  and  great 
balance-sheet  which  Mr.  Henderson,  as  book- 
keeper, had  prepared  for  his  friend's  inspection. 
It  was  the  result  of  their  second  year  of  co-part- 
nership, to  which  Mr.  Cooper  had  brought  the 
few  thousands,  his  Uncle  Murray's  bequest — and 
Mr.  Henderson,  experience,  many  friends,  and  un- 
bending integrity.  It  was  a  time  for  grave  and 
thoughtful  faces.  All  the  future  depended  upon 
the  result ;  to  Mr.  Cooper,  the  little  home,  which 


UNDEE   FULL   SAIL.  311 

he  was  content  to  work  for,  and  his  wife  to  exer- 
cise the  industry  and  self-denial  which  were  grow- 
ing to  be  habitual  now,  and  therefore  a  yoke  to  be 
borne  more  easily.  Yet  Mr.  Henderson  showed 
the  greater  anxiety  of  the  two.  Usually  so  calm 
and  self-possessed,  his  forehead  was  bent  almost 
into  furrows ;  and  his  hand  shook  as  he  went  slowly 
over  the  result,  proving  to  his  friend  that  there 
was  no  possibility  of  an  error  in  the  sum  total. 

Mr.  Cooper,  noisily  demonstrative  at  other 
times,  uttered  only  a  prolonged  whistle,  and  sud- 
denly discovered  that  it  was  car  time.  The  con- 
ference broke  up  in  haste. 

But  a  wife's  quick  eyes  were  not  to  be  deceived 
by  outward  composure.  Mrs.  Cooper  and  Johnny, 
watching  for  papa,  were  rewarded,  at  length,  by 
the  quick,  well-known  tread  upon  the  gravel-walk ; 
and  the  boy,  forgetting  "  the  moon  "  made  by  the 
lamp-shade  upon  the  ceiling,  and  papa's  slippers, 
which  he  had  been  keeping  watch  over  for  half  an 
hour,  trotted  out  into  the  hall,  suddenly  lighted 
by  the  opening  of  the  dining-room  door. 

"  Halloo,  youngster !  you  up  at  this  time  of 
night  ? "  was  the  ungrateful  salutation  with  which 


812  THE  COOPERS. 

the  child's  rapturous  welcome  was  received,  though 
it  was  by  his  father's  especial  desire  that  Master 
Johnny  had  made  acquaintance  with  the  evening 
lamp  and  a  six  o'clock  bedtime. 

"When  was  Johnny  ever  before  found  in  the 
way  ?  Johnny  in  a  sack,  too,  for  the  first  time  in 
his  life,  with  white  trowsers,  and  brass  buttons, 
and  a  belt — almost  a  boy.  Mrs.  Cooper  was  quite 
cut  down  at  having  failed  in  making  a  sensation, 
when  Tiny  in  the  kitchen,  and  Katy  up  stairs,  had 
met  this  first  appearance  by  a  burst  of  admiration 
and  applause  ;  and  even  the  baby,  just  advanced 
to  Johnny's  colored  merino  frocks  of  the  last  win- 
ter, shouted  "  Da  da ! "  in  lier  best  style  at  the 
bright  buttons  and  shining  belt. 

Mr.  Cooper  put  his  hand  to  his  eyes  as  he  came 
into  the  cheerful  light  of  the  dining-room ;  and 
his  wife  saw  at  once,  by  the  tired  haggard  lines 
which  she  knew  so  well  in  the  old  times  of  their 
anxiety,  that  "  something  had  happened,"  that  in- 
definite conclusion  which  reacts  so  suddenly  upon 
the  lightest  and  most  hopeful  mood.  She  pointed 
to  the  slippers,  and  lifted  Johnny  quietly  to  her 
lap,  steadying  her  voice  before  she  said,  "  What 


UNDER  FULL   SAIL.  818 

is  it,  Murray  ? " — a  simple  question  enough,  but 
conveying  all  her  anxiety  and  her  desire  to  com- 
fort him  in  its  cadence. 

"  Matter  ?  Why — what — what  do  you  mean, 
Matty  ? " 

He  stooped  down,  as  he  dre"w  off  his  boots — 
she  thought  intentionally,  so  that  she  should  not 
see  the  working  of  his  face. 

"  Oh,  nothing !    You  do  not  look  well,  though." 

"Don't  13" 

She  would  rather  have  seen  any  other  expres- 
sion than  the  sudden  gayety  with  which  he 
snatched  Johnny  from  her  arms,  and  began  ad- 
miring his  unusual  accoutrements,  which  he  had 
just  caught  sight  of. 

"What's  all  this,  Johnny?  Where  did  all 
these  buttons  come  from  ?  and  a  potet  ?  bless  us, 
a  potet  just  like  papa's!  Why,  Johnny's  a  little 
man  now ! "  And  the  gratified  youngster  was 
lifted  on  the  table,  in  dangerous  proximity  to  the 
castor  and  the  lamp,  where  he  commenced  dis- 
playing all  his  glories  forthwith.  But  his  mother's 
promised  enjoyment  of  the  scene  had  vanished. 

This  boisterous  manner  did  not  quiet  her  ever  rest- 
14 


314  THE  C00PBE8. 

less  apprehensions.  Something  of  importance  had 
happened,  she  was  sure ;  and  Murray  was  only 
putting  her  off. 

"  There  !  that  will  do  for  to-night.  Where 's 
Katy  ? "  said  Mr.  Cooper,  suddenly  relapsing  into 
the  jaded  manner  which  she  had  first  noticed. 

"  Katy  has  gone  to  the  village  with  a  message. 
I  am  to  put  him  to  bed,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  not 
sorry  to  be  alone  for  a  moment  before  she  heard 
the  bad  tidings,  whatever  they  were.  "  Come  up 
softly  when  you  go  to  our  room ;  the  baby  is  a 
little  restless." 

"  "Well,  don't  be  all  night.  Good-by,  Johnny. 
See  who  '11  be  dressed  first  in  the  morning,  you  or 
papa."  And,  with  a  parting  squeeze  and  kiss, 
Johnny  was  resigned  to  his  mother's  charge. 

The  tired  little  hands  dropped  away  ;  and  the 
childish  utterance  of  "  Now  I  lay  me  down  to 
Bleep  "  died  out  at  the  first  line  of  the  boy's  baby 
prayer.  Yet  his  mother  still  knelt  as  she  had  done 
to  teach  him  the  faltered  words.  She  was  praying 
with  an  earnest  vehemence  of  desire,  though  her 
lips  did  not  move,  which  showed  that  this  was  not 
her  first  petition,  that  she  trusted  in  Him  to  whom 


UHTDEE  FULL   SAIL.  315 

she  opened  her  troubled  heart  for  comfort  and 
help,  that  had  been  received  heretofore,  and  was 
ever  ready  for  the  humble  asking  to  supply  the 
need  of  the  hour.  She  had  come  to  this  faith, 
wooed  by  the  gentleness  of  the  invitation  sent  by 
tlie  hand  of  a  well-beloved  servant,  "that  she 
might  have  rest ; "  and  she  found  not  only  rest, 
but  strength,  for  all  that  might  be  before  her.  She 
met  her  husband  with  the  serene,  quiet  look  that 
he  noticed  more  and  more  often  of  late,  as  he  some- 
times wondered  from  whence  came  the  new  love 
liness  that  he  felt,  but  could  scarcely  define. 

Dinner  was  on  the  table,  and  Tiny  moving 
about  with  bread  and  water  pitcher.  There  was 
no  time  for  an  explanation  then ;  besides,  Mrs. 
Cooper  never  wanted  the  width  of  the  table  be- 
tween them  when  there  were  any  confidences  to 
be  made.  Mr.  Cooper  carved  silently,  with  a  pre- 
occupied, steadfast  look,  as  if  he  were  cutting  his 
way  through  some  unseen  difficulty,  instead  of  the 
breast  of  an  innocent  chicken.  What  could  it  be  ? 
Mrs.  Cooper's  quick  imagination  caught  at  the 
worst,  for  a  moment.  She  knew  it  was  very  near 
the  time  for  their  yearly  settlement.    No  doubt 


316  THE  C00PEE8. 

they  had  gone  behindhand ;  perhaps  they  were 
insolvent. 

Tiny  had  retreated  to  her  own  domains,  moving 
the  bell,  significantly,  a  little  nearer  to  her  mistress. 

Mr.  Cooper  threw  down  his  fork. 

"  If's  no  use  ;  I  hav'n't  a  bit  of  appetite." 

Hjs  wife  left  her  seat,  and  came  around  behind 
his  chair,  drawing  his  head  back,  and  pressing  her 
hand  to  his  throbbing  temples.  His  face  certainly 
looked  very  pale  in  the  strong  light. 

"  Never  mind,  then  ;  neither  have  I.  Come 
and  sit  on  the  sofa,  and  tell  me  all  about  it." 

"  Can  you  bear  it  ? "  And  she  was  followed 
unresistingly. 

"  Oh  yes,  any  thing  but  suspense !  Is  it  business  ?" 

"  Yes ;  I  have  been  going  over  the  balance- 
sheet  with  Henderson." 

"To-day?  It  is  a  week  to  the  first  of  the 
month." 

"  I  know  it ;  but  we  could  get -at  it  near  enough. 
You  know,  Matty,  I  never  proposed  going  into 
business  myself." 

"  I  know  it !  I  know  it  I "  she  said,  with  quick 
foreboding.     "  It  was  my  plan." 


UNDER  FULL   SAIL.  317 

"  It  was,  Matty.  I  should  have  been  content 
to  purchase  a  little  home  for  you  and  the  children, 
and  gone  on  with  my  salary  to  support  it." 

"  It  was  all  my  fault,  I  know,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper, 
her  self-accusing  spirit  accepting  the  disappoint- 
ment she  had  herself  prepared.  "  But  we  are  no 
worse  off  than  we  were  then  ;  I  hope  not,  at  least. 
We  can  go  back  to  the  salary ;  can't  we,  Murray  ? 
Is  it  very  bad  ? "  And  a  new  fear  of  liabilities 
over  and  above  their  little  capital  came  with  a 
pang  as  she  spoke.     "  How  much  is  it  ? " 

She  almost  held  her  breath  for  his  reply.  A 
vision  of  long,  toilsome,  burdened  yeare  rose  up 
suddenly  before  her.  Nevertheless,  if  God  had 
seen  fit  to  send  the  trial,  He  would  send  the 
strength  also.  "  As  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength 
be."  There  was  a  promise  that  could  never  be 
made  void. 

"  Two  thousand  three  hundred  and  odd,  to  the 
credit  of  each." 

"  I  don't  understand."  And  the  face,  looking 
up  so  earnestly  into  his,  changed  suddenly. 

"  Over  and  above  our  four  thousand,  of  course," 


318  THE  COOPERS.     1 

said  Mr.  Cooper.  "  Good  gracious,  Matty !  you 
ain't  going  to  faint,  are  you  ? " 

"  Ifo."  But  the  voice,  the  sudden  drooping 
of  the  eyelids,  and  the  quiver  of  the  mouth  seemed 
very  much  like  it. 

"  You  see  the  twelve  hundred  last  year  and 
this,  make  more  than  as  much  again — pretty  good 
profits  for  young  beginners,  hey  ?  and  the  safest 
kind  of  a  business ;  you  may  be  sure  of  that,  with 
Steve  in  the  concern,"  explained  Mr.  Cooper,  ea- 
gerly, nearly  exhausted  by  the  restraint  he  had 
imposed  upon  himself  to  carry  out  his  passion  for 
agreeable  surprises.  "  Splendid  prospects  for  next 
year,  too.  We  never  began  to  do  the  business  we 
are  doing  now ;  and  a  year  from  this,  old  lady, 
somebody  is  going  to  have  a  place  of  her  own." 

"  Oh,  I  don't  care  for  that !  not  at  all."  And, 
at  the  moment,  she  did  not.  It  was  enough  to  be 
relieved  of  her  fears,  and  certain  that  her  husband 
was  solvent  and  prosperous.  She  sent  a  grateful 
upward  thought,  and,  as  when  she  had  numbered 
their  blessings  the  year  before,  said,  aloud  :  "  Grod 
has  been  very  good  to  us." 

"  You  ought  to  have  seen  Steve,  though,  Matty," 


UNDER  FULL  SAIL.  319 

said  Mr.  Cooper,  breaking  out  again.  "  Took  it  a 
great  deal  harder  than  I  did,  for  all  he  has  no  wife 
and  babies.  I  'm  uneasy  about  him.  Positively, 
I  'm  afraid  something  serious  has  happened  to  him. 
He  was  so  shaky,  to-night,  that,  if  it  had  been 
anybody  else,  I  should  have  thought  he  had  been 
taking  a  flyer  in  stocks,  and  the  market  had  turned 
against  him." 

"  I  hope  he  is  not  sick,  and  keeping  it  from  us. 
His  mother  ought  to  know.  Oh,  Murray,  how 
delighted  she  will  be  !  "  And  the  real  enjoyment 
of  their  good  fortune  began  slowly  to  dawn  on 
Mi's.  Cooper's  mind. 

«  What,  that  her  son 's  sick  ? " 

"  You  know  what  I  mean.  You  know  she 's 
almost  as  much  interested  in  us  as  in  him." 

"  I  shouldn't  wonder — no  ! — there  ! — ^well,  I 
shouldn't  be  in  the  least  astonished  if  Steve  was 
fond  of  somebody.  There 's  that  Miss  Caswell, 
his  mother  used  to  talk  about,  up  at  Rockland." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  remember !  he  calls  her  Sarah. 
Don't  you  know,  they  were  saying  how  much  good 
she  was  always  doing  ? " 

"  And  he 's  going  home  next  Aveek,  and  was 


320  THE  000PEE8. 

only  waiting  to  find  out  how  things  stood  before 
he  proposed.  That 's  it !  clear  as  day  !  "Won't  I 
let  him  down  hard  to-morrow  ? " 

"  I  suppose,  from  all  they  said,  she  must  be 
jnst  suited  to  him."  And  Mrs.  Cooper  thought, 
with  a  sigh,  of  Lizzie  Grant,  who  was  not  in  the 
least ;  and  yet  it  would  have  made  her  so  happy 
if  they  had  fancied  each  other.  They  had  met 
frequently  since  the  birthday  dinner ;  but  Mrs. 
Cooper's  little  scheme  had  been  completely  extin- 
guished there.  It  was  her  first  and  last  attempt 
at  match-making.  "  Isn't  Mr.  Henderson  coming 
out  before  he  goes  home  ?  Oh,  and  Murray,  now 
I  am  so  glad  !  I  did  want  to  send  Mrs.  Hender- 
son something  ;  and  now  we  can  afford  it." 

"  There  !  that 's  the  way  I  Kow,  how  can  a 
man  get  ahead  in  the  world  ?  The  instant  he  gets 
a  few  hundred  dollars,  his  wife  rushes  off,  and 
spends  it." 

Mrs.  Cooper  caught  a  momentary  twinkle  in 
her  husband's  eyes,  and  was  not  the  least  thrown 
back  by  this  reception  of  her  proposal. 

"  But  this  is  a  debt,  you  know.    We  owe  more 


UNDER   FULL   SAIL.  321 

in  dollars  and  cents  than  I  should  think  of  giving 
for  all  she  did  for  us  last  fall." 

"  That 's  so  ;  but  you  '11  have  to  be  in  a  hurry 
about  it.   This  is  Friday ;  and  he  goes  on  Monday." 

The  time  had  been  when  Mrs.  Cooper  could,  by 
no  possibility,  have  left  home  on  the  last  day  of 
the  week  ;  but  she  had  learned  better  than  to  let 
cleaning  and  baking  accumulate  until  it  was  such 
a  day  of  toil  that  the  Sabbath  was  by  no  means  a 
rest,  simply  physical  and  mental  stagnation,  as  so 
many  thrifty  householders  find  it.  A  consultation 
with  Tiny,  growing  stout  and  rosy  since  her  final 
recovery  from  chills ;  unnumbered  charges  to 
Kate  ;  and  an  indefinite  promise  of  good  things 
to  Johnny,  covered  her  retreat  from  Saturday's 
domestic  cares.  She  was  not  bent  on  any  extrav- 
agant purchase.  She  thought  of  a  great  many 
costly  things  she  should  like  to  send  ;  and  Murray 
would  have  agreed  heartily  to  any  thing ;  but 
Mrs.  Henderson's  probable  tastes  and  wishes  were 
to  be  consulted ;  and  she  never  had  been  guilty 
of  an  extravagant  fancy  in  her  life.  Mrs.  Cooper 
remembered  having  heard  her  say  that  her  eyes 

were  getting  almost  too  old  for  the  fine  print  of  the 
14* 


322  .    THE    CXWPEE8. 

pocket  Bible  she  had  used  so  long,  tliougli  she  dis- 
liked to  lay  aside  such  an  old  friend  and  comforter. 
To  Appleton's,  therefore,  Mrs.  Cooper  betook  her- 
self, and  was  presently  busied  with  russet-bound 
quartos  and  duodecimos.  "  Fine  white  paper  and 
clear  type.  It  is  not  so  much  matter  about  the 
binding,"  she  explained  to  the  polite  shopman, 
expatiating  upon  standard  and  Oxford  editions ; 
and,  as  she  waited  for  his  descent  for  the  thkd 
time  from  the  accommodating  step-ladder,  which 
brought  the  treasures  of  the  alcove  within  her 
reach,  she  discovered,  notwithstanding  "  the  dim 
religious  light "  which  befitted  the  space  thus  ap- 
propriated, a  familiar  figure,  though  the  face  was 
turned  away.  The  sable  cape,  the  ash-colored  silk 
dress,  the  very  toss  of  the  plumes  on  the  little  vel- 
vet and  lace  apology  for  a  bonnet,  were  unmis- 
takable. But  why  was  Lizzie  Grant  ruminating 
among  velvet-bound  prayer-books  ?  and  what  did 
her  attendant  oracle  mean  by  reading  from  his 
list  "  one  illustrated  '  Pilgrim's  Progi-ess,'  English 
edition  ? " 

Mrs.  Cooper  came  very  near  dropping  the  two 
books  she  was  comparing — ^Miss  Grant  turning 


UNDEB   FULL   SAIL.  323 

suddenly,  flushed  with  a  color  almost  as  deep  as 
the  fuchsias  in  her  bonnet;  but  the  power  of 
speech  never  deserted  her  in  any  emergency. 

"Don^t  think  I've  gone  and  turned  'good' 
after  your  fashion.  I'm  shopping  for  country 
friends,  as  usual ;  and  I  hate  to  make  purchases 
that  I  don't  know  any  thing  about ;  so  you  're  just 
in  time.  Going  to  present  that  to  Murray  for 
New  Year's?" 

But  Miss  Grant  did  not  ask  her  friend's  advice 
at  all ;  on  the  contrary,  her  selections  were  com- 
pleted before  Mrs.  Cooper  had  decided  between 
russet  and  Turkey  bindings ;  and  the  two  left  their 
purchases  to  follow  them.  Miss  Grant  was  in  un- 
usual spirits  even  for  her.  She  proposed  escorting 
Mrs.  Cooper  to  the  depot,  when  she  found  that  she 
was  to  return  immediately.  They  were  just  in 
time  ;  the  first  cars  were  moving  out  of  the  grace- 
less shed,  which  answers  to  that  name,  as  they  en- 
tered the  last  one,  where  they  found  abundance  of 
room  ;  and  Mrs.  Cooper  proposed  that  her  friend 
should  ride  up  town  and  finish  their  chat. 

"  You  can  easily  get  out  at  Fortieth  street." 
And  so  they  thought ;  but  the  halt  was  momentary ; 


324  THE    COOPERS. 

and  they  were  so  busily  occupied,  Miss  Grant  hav- 
ing to  hear  the  whole  story  of  their  good  fortune, 
that  neither  perceived  the  peril  until  the  united 
train  moved  out  steadily  under  steam.  It  was  use- 
less to  grieve  over  it  then,  though  Miss  Grant 
looked  really  vexed  for  a  moment,  and  said  some- 
thing about  a  special  engagement  to  send  off  her 
morning's  purchases.  Nor  did  the  restless,  j)re- 
occupied  look  pass  from  her  face  until,  by  consul- 
tation with  the  conductor,  she  found  that  an  after- 
noon train  would  land  her  in  the  city  a  very  little 
after  dark. 

"  So  you  see  you  might  as  well  go  on  and  enjoy 
yourself,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper ;  "  and,  speaking  of 
engagements,  what  do  you  think  Murray  said,  last 
night,  after  he  told  me  all  about  the  business  ?  I 
was  quite  astonished.  Though,  when  I  came  to 
think  of  it,  lie  had  made  a  great  many  inquiries 
about  the  expense  of  housekeeping,  and  so  on, 
lately  ;  Mr.  Henderson,  I  mean." 

"  And  what  remarkable  discovery  did  Murray 
light  on  ? "  said  Miss  Grant,  with  a  carelessness  of 
her  important  news  that  would  have  vexed  Mrs. 
Cooper  had  she  not  known  of  old  how  little  Mur- 


UNDER   FULL   SAIL.      .  325 

ray's  partner  was  to  her  liking.  "  Is  this  Kiver- 
dale  ? "  she  added,  before  the  answer  could  he 
given. 

"  Oh,  it 's  only  supposition  ! " 

Miss  Grant  turned  from  spelling  out  the  station 
signs,  and  seemed  more  inclined  to  listen. 

"  Murray  thinks  he  is  really  interested  in  some 
one,  and  has  only  been  waiting  to  be  sure  the  bu- 
siness would  allow  him  to  marry.  Miss  Caswell, 
we  think  it  must  be,  the  daughter  of  a  lawyer  in 
Eockland." 

"  Oh !  "  said  Miss  Grant,  "  rustic  and  perfect, 
I  suppose,  given  to  soup-societies,  and  cutting  out 
red  flannel  for  the  Dorcas.  I  wish  you  joy,  my 
dear,  of  such  a  delightfully  congenial  friend." 
Mrs.  Cooper  declined  any  further  communications. 
It  was  a  sore  point  between  Miss  Lizzie  and  her- 
self, the  lack  of  appreciation,  the  bombast,  and 
even  ridicule  with  which  she  always  met  any  allu- 
sion to  Mr.  Henderson.  For  a  few  miles  there 
was  a  most  unusual  silence  between  them ;  and, 
when  the  conversation  recommenced,  it  was  with 
a  strong  resolution,  on  Mrs.  Cooper's  part,  never 


326  THE  COOPEBS. 

to  mention  Mr.  Henderson's  name  to  Lizzie  Grant 
again  so  long  as  they  were  friends. 

But  the  best  resolutions  are  forgotten  ;  and  so 
it  was  that,  this  same  afternoon,  when  Miss  Grant 
was  sitting  by  the  parlor  fire,  with  her  cloak 
thrown  around  her,  and  bonnet  in  hand,  waiting 
only  Mr.  Cooper's  arrival  to  be  escorted  to  the 
down  train,  the  conversation  came  round  to  Fair- 
view,  the  pretty  place  occupied  by  Mrs.  Graves, 
who  had  fulfilled  her  threat  of  breaking  up,  and 
going  to  board. 

"  It 's  the  most  delightful  house,  so  tasteful  and 
well  built.  I  only  wish  it  was  for  sale  a  year  later, 
or  that  Mr.  Henderson  would  marry  a  rich  wife, 
and  settle  down  there.  Dear  me,  with  Murray 
doing  so  well  and  all,  I  don't  think  I  should  have 
a  thing  to  ask  !  " 

"  State  your  case.  There 's  no  knowing  what 
he  might  do  to  oblige  you." 

"He  wouldn't  do  that  to  oblige  his  own 
mother,"  said  Mrs.  Cooper,  with  energy,  and  walk- 
ing quite  out  of  sight  of  her  resolve.  "  He  never 
will  marry  any  one  with  money.  He  has  a  per- 
fect horror  of  any  thing  mercenary.     And,  who- 


UNDEK  FULL  SAIL.  327 

ever  his  wife  is,  she  will  be  fortunate  among 
women." 

"  Isn't  it  a  great  pity  you  can't  dispose  of  Mur- 
ray, and  take  him  yourself  ? " 

"  There  he  is  now,  I  verily  believe,"  said  Mrs. 
Cooper,  distracted  from  this  taunt  by  the  appear- 
ance of  two  dark  figures  passing  the  window  in 
the  twihght.  "  Lizzie  1 "  But  Miss  Grant  had 
disappeared. 

Mrs.  Cooper  met  Mr.  Henderson  with  both 
hands  extended,  though  glancing  uneasily  over 
her  shoulder  to  see  if  there  was  a  flutter  of  Miss 
Grant's  dress  in  the  dining-room  beyond.  "  I  did 
not  think  you  would  go  without  coming  out  for  a 
quiet  evening,"  she  said. 

"  But  he  can't  stay  over  the  next  train,"  said 
Murray ;  "  so  make  the  most  of  him." 

"  Oh,  but  you  must !  We  shall  not  see  you 
again  in  so  long ;  and  I  have  a  hundred  and  one 
messages  to  send  to  your  mother." 

"I'm  sorry;  but  any  other  time — ^to-morrow 
being  Sunday,"  said  Mr.  Henderson,  hurriedly,  as 
he  came  into  the  fire-light,  and  stooped  down  a 
little,  rubbing  his  hands  in  the  bright  warmth. 


328  THE  COOPEES. 

"  Positively  ? " 

"  Positively." 

"  And  I  haven't  written  that  note  to  your  mother, 
or  seen  you  to  congratulate  you." 

Mrs.  Cooper  said  this  very  innocently;  and, 
referring  to  the  business,  wondered  greatly  at  the 
explosion  that  followed ;  Mr.  Cooper  thumping 
his  friend  unceremoniously  on  the  back,  with 
"  She 's  got  ahead  of  you,  after  all ;  out  with  it, 
old  fellow !  Here  I  what 's  the  use  of  being  bash- 
ful ?    Steve 's  in  for  it,  Matty ;  he  's  engaged." 

"  Engaged  ! "  And  Mrs.  Cooper  forgot  the 
necessity  there  was  for  Murray  to  post  directly 
back  to  the  cars  with  Miss  Grant,  in  the  certainty 
of  this  overwhelming  intelligence. 

"  Positively  done  for,  by  telegraph,  I  expect 
— for  I  '11  answer  for  it,  every  thing  hung  on  that 
balance-sheet,  last  night." 

"  No  wonder  you  are  anxious  to  get  to  Rock- 
land," said  Mrs.  Cooper.  "  But  tell  us  ail  about 
her ;  is  she  young  ?  is  she  pretty  I  is  she  so  dread- 
fully, dreadfully  good?  am  I  going  to  be  very 
much  afraid  of  her  3 " 

Mr.  Henderson  smiled ;  yet  his  manner  was 


ma)EE  FULL  SAIL.  329 

more  embarrassed  than  the  position  seemed  to  re- 
quire. 

"  I  have  not  her  permission  to  tell  even  such 
close  friends  all  about  it.  Don't  think  it  strange ; 
you  shall  know  first  of  any  one,  even  before  my 
mother." 

"  Pray  don't  make  a  stranger  of  me,  good  peo- 
ple ! " 

The  voice  sounded  close  at  Mr.  Henderson's 
elbow  ;  and  the  window-curtain  was  thrown  over 
a  chair  by  the  movement  Miss  Grant  made  in 
emerging  suddenly  from  her  concealment. 

«  Lizzie ! " 

Yes,  positively  Mr.  Henderson  said  "  Lizzie," 
and  started  as  if  somebody  had  thrown  a  torpedo 
under  his  feet ;  so  did  Mrs.  Cooper,  as  he  drew 
the  delinquent's  hand  through  his  arm,  the  next 
moment,  and  kept  it  in  his,  moreover. 

""Well,  what  have  you  got  to  say?  Why 
don't  you  congratulate  us ! "  said  Miss  Grant, 
dropping  a  defiant  courtesy  at  Mr.  Cooper ;  "  or 
are  you  so  very  much  afraid  of  her  ? "  And  she 
caught  the  tone  of  Mrs.  Cooper's  query  exactly. 

"  I  wash  my  hands  of  the  business  for  one," 


330  THE   COOPERS. 

said  Mr.  Cooper,  regaining  his  mental  equilibrium, 
and  comprehending  the  position  of  affairs.  "  Don't 
eicpect  me  to  sympathize  when  you  come  to  sep- 
arate six  weeks  after  the  wedding." 

"  Keep  your  sympathy  till  it  is  called  for ;  one 
thing  at  a  time;  where 's  your  manners?  you 
haven't  congratulated  us  yet.  Why,  Matty,  what 's 
the  matter  ? " 

But  Mrs.  Cooper  was  really  hurt  and  offended. 
That  all  this  should  have  been  going  on,  and  she 
not  even  consulted,  when  they  might  thank  her 
for  it  all,  too !  And  Lizzie  had  been  there  all  day, 
and  was  going,  without  so  much  as  a  hint  of  what 
had  happened.  Ko;  it  was  too  unkind.  "She 
would  never  forgive  them  as  long  as  she  lived." 

"I  couldn't  tell  you  I  intended  to  marry  the 
man  before  he  asked  me,"  said  Miss  Grant,  really 
disturbed  by  this  unlooked-for  emotion  on  Mrs. 
Cooper's  part. 

"  And  I  couldn't  tell  you  I  thought  she  would, 
when  she  never  allowed  me  even  to  guess  what 
she  intended  to  say." 

"  My  dear,  he  was  the  longest  time  coming  to 


UNDEE  FULL  SAIL.  331 

the  point.  Positively,  I  thought  he  intended  to 
get  out  of  it,  after  all." 

"  Not  many  minutes  after  he  found  he  could 
afford  to  propose  I  '11  wager,"  said  Mr.  Cooper ; 
"  he  couldn't  stop  for  an  omnibus,  I  recollect,  when 
we  left  the  office." 

"  That 's  it ;  'twas  the  man's  dreadful  anxiety. 
I  was  surprised  into  it.  I  fully  intended  to  say 
no." 

"  Did  you  ? "  said  Mr.  Henderson,  quietly. 

"  But  here  she 's  been  all  day,  yes,  very  much 
concerned  about  being  brought  out  against  her 
wiU." 

Mrs.  Cooper  was  battling  between  her  mortifi- 
cation at  not  having  been  made  a  confidant  by 
either  party,  and  the  good  sense  which  forced  her 
to  acknowledge  that,  just  as  Mr.  Headerson  had 
been  situated,  there  was  nothing  to  confide  up  to 
the  last  hour  of  his  suit. 

"  I  didn't  wish  to  hurt  Mr.  Cooper's  feelings," 
said  Miss  Grant,  demurely.  "The  fact  of  the 
business  is,  we  were  both  so  interested  in  each 
other's  affairs,  last  night,  that  we  forgot  to  ex- 
change permission  to  put  it  in  the  papers." 


332  THE  COOPERS. 

"  And  he  was  too  honorable  to  tell  names,  as 
it  was  your  secret ;  and  you  were  afraid  to. 
That's  it;  own  up  that  you're  afraid  of  him, 
Lizzie ;  and  we  '11  forgive  you.  That  ever  I  should 
live  to  see  the  day  Lizzie  Grant  acknowledging 
mortal  man  for  her  lord  and  master !  " 

"  There 's  the  train,  now,"  said  Mr.  Henderson, 
as  a  faint,  shrill  shriek  began  to  sound  in  the 
distance ;  yet  he  made  no  attempt  to  regain  his 
hat. 

"  I  suppose  we  must  ask  yon  both  to  stay  un- 
til Monday,  now."  Mrs.  Cooper  came  out  of  her 
pet  with  an  effort.  "  You  don't  deserve  it,  either 
of  you.  Oh,  you  might  as  well  make  the  best  of 
it,  Lizzie  !  You  could  not  possibly  reach  the  depot 
in  time.  I  don't  believe  it  in  the  least,  even  yet, 
after  Mr.  Henderson's  long  list  of  qualifications." 
And,  in  the  bottom  of  her  heart,  she  wondered  how 
he  had  overlooked  the  giddiness  and  frivolity  so 
opposite  his  staid  gravity,  or  Lizzie  contented  herself 
to  encounter  what  would  be  a  strict  though  gentle 
rule  if  she  became  his  wife.  But  then,  as  she  said 
to  herself,  the  next  moment,  how  very  unlike  Mur- 
ray and  herself  were,  in  the  opinion  of  their  friends ; 


UNDEB  FULL  SAIL.  333 

there  was  no  accounting  for  these  things,  after  all. 
"  What  possessed  you,  Lizzie  ? "  she  said,  the  mo- 
ment they  were  alone. 

"  My  dear,  you  don't  think  it's  him!  No  ;  I'm 
going  to  marry  for  a  mother-in-law.  I  dote  on  his 
mother.  I  did  from  the  first  moment  I  saw  her 
here.  I  never  remember  one  of  my  own ;  and  it's 
the  only  way  I  can  get  a  claim  on  her ;  that 's 
all.  I  shall  make  up  my  mind  to  endure  his  perfec- 
tions. They  were  dreadfully  in  the  way,  I  assure 
you." 

"  How  about  a  rich  wife  ?"  said  Mr.  Cooper, 
afterwards,  in  the  same  bantering  tone. 

The  gentlemen  had  strolled  out  to  smoke  in 
the  moonlight,  frosty  though  it  was. 

"  It  was  hard  to  get  over.  I  told  her  so  at  once. 
It  kept  me  balancing  the  matter  for  months.  But 
I  said  to  myself,  if  the  woman  I  loved  had  been  so 
unfortunate  as  to  have  had  the  smallpox,  or  a  cast 
in  the  eye,  I  could  get  over  it." 

"And  you  wasn't  going  to  let  twenty  thousand 
dollars  stand  between  you  and  happiness  ?  Mag- 
nanimous !  " 

"  Precisely ;  when  I  was  sure  of  being  able  not 


804  THE  GOOPEBS. 

to  touch  it,  in  any  way.  If  yon  knew  how  I  felt 
when  I  was  making  ont  that  balance  sheet !  " 

They  were  passing  by  Fairview  at  this  moment ; 
and,  as  things  will  come  about  in  stories,  and  some- 
times in  real  life,  Mrs.  Cooper  had  the  pleasure  of 
superintending  the  arrangement  of  this  charming 
place  for  its  future  mistress,  not  many  months  af- 
terwards. A  part  of  the  obnoxious  money  had 
been  disposed  of  in  its  purchase,  and  something 
more  in  its  comfortable  plenishing.  Miss  Grant 
declared  her  utter  indifference  to  all  the  prepara- 
tions, with  the  exception  of  a  large  bright  chamber, 
which  she  called,  from  the  first,  "  mother's  room." 
And  Mrs.  Cooper  bid  fair  to  have  all  her  wishes 
gratified  when  she  found  that  Mrs.  Hendereon, 
well  pleased  at  this  unusual  devotion  in  her  son's 
bride,  had  consented  to  occupy  it  six  months  of 
every  year,  though  she  resisted  every  entreaty  to 
unite  the  two  families,  and  bring  her  daughters 
with  her  as  permanent  residents. 

"  I  really  think  I  can  manage  it,  "  said  Mrs. 
Cooper,  talking  of  the  intended  wedding  which 
was  to  take  place  at  the  house  of  Miss  Grant's  old 
guardian  in  Albany.     "  Tiny  does  so  well,  now, 


UNDER  FULL   SAIL.  335 

I  scarcely  have  to  look  after  her  ;  and  all  my 
spring  sewing  is  done  ;  so  the  children's  clothes 
are  ready." 

"  To  be  sure  you  can,  and  stop  a  week  with  your 
Aunt  Agnes.  Tiny  is  worth  a  dozen  housekeepers. 
We  '11  get  along." 

"  She  really  is  quite  a  treasure.  I  remember 
how  I  used  to  wonder  where  people  found  their 
'  treasures.'  I  understood  what  Mrs.  Philips  said, 
that  they  were  not  to  be  found." 

"  Curious  how  things  come  about ;  isn't  it 
now?  "said  Mr  Cooper,  reflectively.  "Here  we 
are  married,  and  settled,  and  doing  well  in  the 
world.  Curious  how  Steve  and  I  happened  to 
go  into  business  together.  Anybody  else  might 
have  made  ducks  and  drakes  of  the  little  we  had. 
Well,  we  shall  know  how  to  spend  money  now, 
when  we  get  it ;  hey,  Matty  ? " 

"  Thanks  to  him  and  his  mother ! "  said  Mrs. 
Cooper.  "  It  is  beautiful  to  see  how  devoted  Lizzie 
is  to  her,  just  as  she  ought  to  be  to  sitch  a  mother. 
Oh,  Murray ! "  she  added,  with  sudden  energy,  "  I 
do  hope  we  shall  have  the  same  comfort  in  our 
children."     And,  with  this  hope,  we  leave  them 


336  THE  COOPEES. 

on  the  verge  of  that  good  fortune  which  they  had 
80  worthily  won  by  the  help  of  the  ever-watchful 
Providence  that  had  so  strangely  and  happily 
mingled  the  lives  of  these  triends. 


THE  END. 


J1132  9231 


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